#for moments there are shining diamonds in all of that sorrow and my god does it make you yearn for them

[feline-evil]

The fun thing about playing mgs5 again is playing through thinking you have plenty of time left, that it's not gonna happen anytime soon; and then seeing the mission names appear in the list and just. Knowing it's almost time, that it's almost over. And almost for a second thinking maybe it'll work out different this time? Maybe it can be fixed this time and someone, ANYONE involved can get a happy ending? And you know it won't and it can't, and you know you can just. Stave it off for as long as possible by not doing the missions, by just waiting. Doing literally anything else. But you won't you'll see it through to it's bitter end, because you have to.

[radiowallet]

December 15th - Gift Shopping

Summary: Marcus goes shopping for his new wife.

Pairing: Marcus x Wife (female reader)

WC: 700

Warnings: T, Language, fluff, fluff, fluff

Thank you so much to @toomanystoriessolittletime​ for putting this prompt list together.

Marcus is very much in a panic. Not in a “oh god, an evil super villain has taken the city hostage again” panic or even a “Miracle-Guy is thinking of changing his name again” panic. 

No, either of those things would have been welcomed at this point, a wonderful reprieve as Marcus starts his third lap around the shopping mall. Christmas is ten days away, ten pathetically short days, and he has no present for his wife. His beautiful, funny, feisty wife, not even married a year, getting ready to celebrate your first Christmas together as a family and he can’t figure out what to get you. This was something he was good at, a trait he had prided himself on all throughout your dating history. Every trinket, every gift, every occasion, he got it just right, always striking that perfect balance between sweet and fun and spicy.

But now-

Nothing was good enough. Not the jewelry he had agonized over, or the cashmere sweater he had carried around for 45 minutes, not the countless gift cards he had considered. Nothing said what he needed to say: Thank you for marrying me, thank you for understanding and accepting who I am. Thank you for not being mad those four times I missed dinner because I was on a stakeout, and thanks for not being mad at any future meals I will more than likely miss. Thank you for any hypothetical children you’re willing to give me, thank you for that time in bed a few weeks back. Do you remember that? Holy shit that was life changing.

To be fair, he’s asking a lot from one single present.

His feet carry him back to Cinnabon and he falls onto the bench right across from it, breathing in the sugary sweet smell as he tries to center himself. He thinks back on past gifts, jewelry, pieces of art, that pair of headphones you never would have splurged on for yourself. All of those ideas had come to him so easily but now his mind was a blank slate, an empty void and the only thought that’s currently in his head is how good those Cinnabon’s smell. Just as he’s about to consider getting in line and drowning his sorrows in the disgustingly sweet indulgence of extra icing there’s movement to his left, someone sitting down next to him on the bench, a little too close to be a stranger.

“Fancy meeting you here, Moreno.”

He grins, twisting in his seat, eyes taking in your bright smile and mischievous eyes, your winter hat clutched between your fingers, the diamond bands he had placed in your left ring finger shining magnificently beneath the cheap fluorescent lights.

“Right back at you, Moreno.”

“What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?”

“Oh, you know, the usual. Desperately wandering store after store, trying to figure out what present to get my amazing new husband for Christmas. You?”

He wants to laugh and cry all at the same time, relief flooding him from every angle. Misery certainly loves company and he feels zero shame in finding joy in your present hunting frustrations. Your mouth is twisted in a wry little turn, clearly reading every emotion flitting across his face.

“That’s so interesting. I seem to have found myself in a similar situation with my beautiful new wife.”

“Huh. Perhaps we could help solve each other’s problems? Maybe have a conversation about the rules surrounding gift giving over a fluffy, syrup sweet treat?”

Marcus laughs, falling against your side, head resting on your shoulder, clutching tight to his stomach. You’re laughing too, the most perfect sound in the whole world and he’s one hundred percent certain nothing under that Christmas tree will feel as good as this moment does, the two of you laughing together in the middle of a shopping mall, the entire line of Cinnabon patrons staring at the pair of you like you’ve collectively lost your minds. The day only gets better when, as he leans in to kiss away a smear of frosting from your lips, you propose the idea of no gifts this year, and if he could he’d marry you all over again.

Here’s a little extra treat if you’re wondering what Marcus and his wife got up that was so life changing.

Main Masterlist

31 Days for Marcus Moreno Masterlist

Tag List: @nolanell @honestly-shite @leslie-lyman  @gingersnappe-9 @mandocrasis @dobbyjen @sergeantbannerbarnes @lowlights @cowboy-turtle @mindidjarin @alm0501​ @castleamc​ @tintinn16​ @hnt-escape​ @prostitute-robot-from-the-future​ @magpie-to-the-morning​ @jazzelsaur​ @mylovelycomandante​

[papa-rhys]

Thoughts on Jack and His Borderline Personality Disorder and How It Shows Through His Behaviour - Because I Cannot Stop Analysing Things That Ultimately Aren’t Important

Symptoms/behaviours under the cut because holy hell this guy has a lot of them. Like, honey, are you okay?

Okay, so I’m pretty sure I can trace Jack’s BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) back to his grandmother. His mum abandoned him, which shows a reckless/irresponsible behaviour and her mum had fits of rage that didn’t correlate at all with the trigger (ie; drowning Jack’s cat because he didn’t make his bed). So I think he has a family history of it, with both his mother and grandmother having BPD and passing it down to him.

Either way, Jack definitely has it. In fact, he’s a textbook case of it.

Impulsivity

Spending sprees: he bought a pony made of diamonds because he was bored and throws money at all kinds of ventures to keep him occupied and because he wants to. I really don’t know how else to describe this one lol. He bought a pony. Made of diamonds. Because he could.

Gambling: won some of the things on his trophy shelf through poker and owns an entire casino. Hunting the Vaults themselves were a huge gamble too, especially the first two, since he wasn’t truly sure that they existed. He was prepared to sacrifice a lot in order to come out on top in both his career and his social standing. All in all, he’s reckless.

Binge eating: he doesn’t even like pretzels, but still eats them because he’s either bored or stressed. Talks about food quite a bit in conversation, too, especially his cravings.

Substance abuse: admits to being high on uppers for the duration of the pre sequel (and his time on Elpis as a whole) and tells further anecdotes about drugs and getting high in tftbl.

Promiscuity/unsafe sex: nothing about having sex with Nisha is safe lol. But in all seriousness, there’s no way to prove this one. He does strike me as the reckless sex sort though. No proof, just 7 years of knowing him as a character.

Emotional instability

Inappropriate trigger response: he strangles a man to death for simply mentioning his wife, stabs Lilith for talking about Angel, and tries to kill Rhys for not being sure about his grand plan (more on this later). His response to triggers is disproportionate, often resulting in extreme anger over small things that don’t warrant that intense of a reaction. He gets big angry about almost everything; there’s no middle ground. His reaction is never really “you’re annoying me a lot” or “don’t talk about that, I don’t like it.” His reaction to almost everything is “oh my god I will murder your first born child how dare you-”

Quickly changing mood: aside from being prone to fits of rage at the flick of a switch, Jack also flicks back to “normal” pretty quickly, too. He flips between telling you to kill yourself after surviving the train and then talks casually about his day. He’ll be filled with rage after Angel’s death and then suddenly he’s laughing about you jumping into lava and having fun tricking you into visiting his grandmother. He can be intensely angry or sorrowful one moment and then nonchalant and sociable the next. His moods don’t last very long.

Idolisation/devaluation

Jack does this with numerous people across the games, but the two shining examples are Moxxi and Rhys; Rhys being the most notable. He idolises Moxxi, complimenting her on how attractive she is and how smart she is and including her in his circle of close friends/teammates. Then the inevitable happens and she lets him down and he instantly changes his opinion on her as if he’d never thought she was good to begin with. The same happens with Rhys. Throughout tftbl, Jack is best friends with Rhys and seems to form a one-sided connection with him where he idolises him and thinks they’re going to be best friends for ever and that they’re the perfect team. You cannot make him mad at you in tftbl (trust me, I’ve tried). He’s encouraging to Rhys the whole way through, like they’re brothers. Then the second Rhys displays doubts about something Jack is passionate about, Jack reacts violently and completely devalues Rhys, claiming him to be his mortal enemy and trying to kill him. People with BPD do this often. They have strong convictions and have a tendency to feel betrayed by people who go against those convictions. Jack does this regularly and it leads to the breakup of a lot of his relationships.

Paranoia

He vented a room full of scientists into space, just in case. I mean, that pretty much sums it up, really. Jack is under a lot of stress at this point in the game and stress-induced paranoia is a particularly difficult symptom of BPD. With him already feeling the pressure, the mention of a possible mole is a huge trigger for Jack. Especially since he’s reeling from the recent betrayal from a friend. His brain is already working over time, planting uneasy feelings of distrust and being unsafe. So when he’s presented with the idea from an outside source, he runs with it. Betrayal goes on to become a big button to push in Jack’s life to the extent that he actively betrays people before they get a chance to betray him (ie; killing Wilhelm). Paranoia feeds into a lot of Jack’s bad decisions, particularly in the pre sequel era.

Delusion

Jack wasn’t lying when he told us that he’s the hero. He absolutely was not the hero at all, but he wasn’t lying about it. Because lying about something implies that you know it’s not true, and Jack genuinely believes he’s a good person. The best person, in fact. It’s not a lie because in his mind, it’s the god given truth. He’s massively delusional, even before the events of the pre sequel. He’ll spout all the cheesy 80s movie lines about saving the moon and being the hero and he thinks he’s the protagonist of his own big adventure. We know that’s not what’s happening, but Jack doesn’t see it that way. Another delusion is the idea he has about how much everyone loves him. He thinks Moxxi is obsessed with him and he thinks Angel is being forced to work against him. He cannot conceive of a world in which people don’t like him or agree with him. Because why wouldn’t they agree with him? He’s the hero. Everybody loves the hero...

Intense but unstable relationships

Moxxi, Angel, Lilith, the Vault Hunter; I could go on. Jack’s relationships with people are volatile and rocky, even when they’re seemingly on the same side like with Moxxi or even Nisha (who he forms a tight bond with very quickly). People with BPD feel all emotions intensely, which causes a roller coaster. Jack really likes Moxxi, but then he doesn’t want to talk to her, but then he wants her on the team, but then he gets mad at her for calling him a pet name and beign friendly, and then he’s telling her she’s sexy, and then he’s cursing her, and then he’s hanging pictures of her in his casino. It’s the same with Angel - he subjects her to physical torture, then he loves her, then he’s mad at her for helping the Vault Hunter, then he’s doting on her, then he’s manipulating her, then he’s grieving for her. Everything is a whirlwind.

Distorted self-image

Oh boy. Jack has this physically and mentally. Mentally in the sense that he thinks he’s a good person when he actions are abhorrent and also because he’s massively insecure. BPD often comes with a lack of identity, which causes insecurity to begin with. Throw that in a pot alongside some childhood abuse, betrayal, work place bullying, and grief, and you got yourself a big pot of insecurity soup. Put plainly, Jack doesn’t really know who he is at his baseline. His personality and interests and ideas and needs all change on an hourly basis. He morphs to suit his circumstances. He can be open, honest and down to earth when he’s trying to trick Rhys. He can be full of worry and desperation when he needs you to head to grandma’s house. He can be cunning and clever when he’s tricking you into killing Wilhelm. He can be fatherly, he can be nasty, he can be torturous, he can be laid back, he can be clever, he can be ignorant, he can be sheepish, he can be cocky. He’s everyone and no one all at once and this probably leaves him feeling very hollow and empty; which is another symptom of BPD. In the physical sense, Jack issues with self image are pretty clear. He wears a face over his face to hide his face. Yup. And he does this because he thinks he’s disgracefully ugly. This scar he’s so vehemently protective of is something that defines his whole persona going forward. He literally claims himself as Handsome Jack, forcing people to adhere to the idea that he’s so attractive that it should be his title. Even though he doesn’t feel that way and does everything he can to hide the real him. He thinks he’s hideous and he struggles between loving himself and hating himself because of it.

Fear of abandonment

Aaaand here we are at the crux of the problem. BPD boils down to the intense fear of abandonment and this is probably what guides Jack for most of his life. His father died, his mother literally abandoned him, his grandmother neglected him, his first wife died, second wife left, girlfriend and friends betrayed him, and daughter killed herself to get away from him. Abandonment is practically coded into Jack’s DNA at this point and every time it happens, it confirms his fears more. He clings to Moxxi after she betrays him - taking her ideas to try and rile her up and even going as far as to recreate her entire bar in his casino because he wants to keep her presence around. He fights tooth and claw against Angel’s rebellion, begging both her and you to stop what you’re doing and leave. The only time he begs you is when he’s facing perceived abandonment, that’s how strong the fear is. His final words to Angel are “I’ll still forgive you.” Jack isn’t a forgiving man by any stretch, but he’ll say anything he has to in order to prevent her from leaving him. He’ll stalk people, he’ll manipulate them, he’ll lie to them or keep them physically locked up - all to prevent them from abandoning him. The worst possible thing that could happen to Jack is that, and we see the spiral he slips into after Angel. After Moxxi. After the Meriff. After his wife. He can’t bare the thought of someone leaving him and he’ll do anything and everything to prevent his fears becoming a reality.

So yeah! There it is, I finally got around to posting it lol. There’s probably a lot more little details that I’ve forgotten, but I cannot think of them right now. I’ll probably update if I think of any more! The tl;dr is that almost all of Jack’s behaviour can be linked to massively untreated BPD. He needed meds and therapy, but he didn’t get them and he spiralled as a result.

[michaelbogild]

Quotes written within 7 hours on March 10 2021

Do I even exist within the lyrics of your heart?

A night-chant fills my heart with the depths of her name.

You turned my soul into a perpetual sigh.

Our eternity is ebbing out…

She is the golden enchantress of my amorous imagination.

…and the sunset bled like a desperate prayer.

Sweet is our horizon now that we have vowed our true love.

I saw in her beauty a true light, a divine opening, a perfected flower.

Our emotions floated so ethereally into each other.

There was a fog around my heart. I called it love.

Caught in the heavenly haze of an incautious love.

I was wasting my time, singing into a deaf abyss.

She hides behind the gate of darkness.

Impossible colours shall rise from our wondrous love.

He haunts their lost heaven with a thousand poems.

Our fire is different.

The passionate sunlight of her golden love.

There is a sorrowful absence of stars in her words and glances.

Their love has deepened into poetry.

Her eyes, a divine darkness circling an emerald dream.

Centuries of love are flowing between their golden glances.

She is like a rose of pure poetry.

She is born of the softest strains of heaven.

Flowing from her heart was the strangest moon-chord.

I am always busy dreaming.

There are centuries of enchantment in her eyes and kisses.

She shines with the richness of a summer rose.

He aches in the hollow of the moon.

Her tender words of innocent spring-blooms.

Unkissed lovers, unread poets, they are all cherished by the moon.

They colored each others emotions with all the hues of their magical dreams.

The sparkling heaven of their strong-hearted love.

The love-kissed harmonies of her spring-bright heart.

A rainbow of pure possibilities arches above their innocent love-dream.

The bewildering cadence of her vast beauty.

Together in the darkness, skin on skin, aching lips, pounding pulses.

They dance within Love’s deepest and richest imaginations.

If the moon could speak it would chant your name.

The shadows of angels plays with the beauty of her eyes.

She married her dreams to the drunkenness of his love.

My longing is autumnal rain, my longing is a note that trembles with memories.

I drowned in a sea that was deeper than love.

We melted into dreams and entered the heart of heaven.

Our dreams were precious diamonds reminiscent of stars.

She spun her loving words from eternal dreams.

Our mutual emotions are embracing under the full moon of flowering love.

I woke in the middle of the night. The moon was weeping in my heart.

I floated with the tide of her dreams.

Our feelings are dancing in the moonlight of mutual love.

He picked up his Fender and played his way into her soul.

You and I and the thousand-eyed night.

Everything she does rhymes with the the stars of his heart.

Let us stay within the silvery richness of the moonbeams, cocooned by night, endlessly dreaming.

I heard her whisper from the abyss of a poem.

Your truth has no spine, it slithers like a serpent.

Everything blessed us, especially the moon.

The moon knocks on my heart, I open and see her face.

His poetry feasts on her beauty’s fire.

the infinity of beginnings

His glances dragged out the secrets of her soul.

To have a heart is to live in bondage.

Her whispering moon-angels, her strange inspirations.

Why must the darkness feast on my heart?

His beauty invites her love.

I melted into the music of everything she is.

Your the wildest place my mind can travel to.

She wears his worlds with a most eloquent perfection.

She affects an innocence, but deals in nothing but darkness.

Her eyes are sirens, undertows.

She held the hand of night, slipped into peculiar dreams.

…and in that simple moment, we were larger than the universe.

Our electrified emotions, our inevitable chain-reactions.

I crave the constellations of her perfect love.

I was as blind as my bliss, I put all my faith in a beautiful mirage.

Our wounded heaven, our straying hearts of confusion.

Her poems ascend to the pleasure of the gods.

Her eyes wear the richness of his love.

Save me from this limbo of loneliness.

We enjoyed our divine imaginings, we thrived in our dreams of Elysian perfection.

My heart exploded into a symphony of love.

The starry charms of her penetrating eyes.

She struck with her beauty the truest chord of his being.

Our love is winged with the eternity of stars.

Her smiling soul has all the vivacity of the fair-flowering  spring.

quotes in  hours and  minutes. New record!

The autumnal poetry of her wistful eyes.

Writing aching verses from my limbo of longing.

I climbed her godless mountains.

He shaped her feelings into beautiful songs.

Her honey-dripping words of aching love.

My heart has sobered up, the dream now appears insane.

I linger in the heart-shaped notes of her beauty.

Crucified by a shallow kiss.

Lost in the golden astrology of her lovesome eyes.

The closing flower of her love, the sunset of her dear affections.

Vaster than heaven are my hopes of her love.

She answers my love with the dreamiest perfection.

Swirling in dreamy spheres of amorous hope.

He lit with a hundred kisses the torch of her heart.

Her heart is as light as the solitude of a dreaming poet.

He planted a thousand dreams in the garden of her beauty.

Her invisible flame, her perfectly veiled love.

The cherry blossom sweetness of her beauty’s fresh melodies.

The lingering star of her hopeless love.

The dreamy scent of her Love’s enchanting roses.

Smilingly she sings, my muse of spring.

Ancient enigmas plays within the texture of her love.

I stumbled into a moon-dream, saw you picking flowers.

The bitter wine of her uncertain love.

Her blinding beauty, her graces that births fools.

The silky sailing of our perfect love.

A thousand angels live in the heaven of our love.

We flowed into each others feelings, tangled our roots together.

Mad for her skin and kisses, mad for her soulful beauty.

Spinning on the axis of eternity, fathomlessly lost in her beauty.

I miss her summer-smiles, her eyes of emerald grace.

The fearless heart of love and all its star-like dreaming.

Pour your dreams into the cup of my heart, I will drink their golden richness.

Her absence is a most penetrating pain.

I travelled across the sea of her soul’s uncertain love.

Her heart was kindled by the sad flame of the sunset.

We braided our dreams into a beautiful destiny.

My dreams ascend, higher and higher, waiting to burn in her heavenly name.

Your kiss has the soft eloquence of the moonlight.

The darkness of her songs could eclipse the moon.

The ruined empire of love, the birth of a thousand ghosts.

I was the heart of the night and the night of the heart.

Her heart is deepening, with every touch, into love.

She dreams in the colours of his love.

Her love turned my dreams into living poetry.

The dream has returned to my heart, love again is possible.

I write from her shadows of her faded feelings.

She turned my airy dreams into golden realities.

We were shooting stars across the heaven of summer twilights.

I wandered like a fool into her dark ocean.

In her heart, the softest moans of waves.

She dreams in all the hues of his heart.

A devil’s song burned the crosses of her heart.

our moonlit refrains of amorous glory

All of his stars are scented with her name.

The lunar butterflies of her mystic ways.

She comes with the smile of June.

I drowned in the depth of her name.

Her poetry is a magical fountain of dreams.

Her emotions are stretching into songs of amorous praise.

An ebbing emotion, a light that can’t stay.

He keeps her memory in a shrine of shadows.

Her love is a velvet poem.

Her eyes are sparkling with the richness of his love.

He craves to be kissed by all her colours.

I travelled across the desert of an abandoned dream.

Our love is the true heart of the season.

I believed in her false ocean.

You pushed my heart into a fever, now all is vertigo.

The night is her crown, beauty her imperial scepter.

You are the sweetest chord that has ever quivered in my heart.

There is no sweeter harmony than our golden love of summery blisses.

He brings out all the secret moons of her heart.

She dreams with the spirit of a star.

Elusive love, you teasing ghost.

Her beauty is a song wherein poets ache.

A twilight of faded feelings.

Tangled into her moon-dreams, burning within her deepest light.

Kiss my lips with our destiny.

His destiny burns in the heart of the moon.

She is a tender flower in a storm of broken love.

Their love was a chorus of unfathomable richness.

We poured love into love.

Divinely enchanted by the eloquence of her beauty.

Her love sings the softness of the daisies.

The star-flowers of her golden glances.

Vaster than stars is his love of undying faithfulness.

Your love has winged my spirit, now all I do is dream.

To have her love is to have the stars.

The blazing bloom of her golden love.

She sings from the valley of sad memories.

A starry heaven as supreme as her soul.

He kindles the unsung dreams of her heart.

…and I drank, again, the wine of melancholy.

Love’s fathomless glory of amorous roses.

She dreams with the stars of his golden love.

I finally understand the moon in me.

The naturalness of her beauty sings the beauty of spring.

All her angels are hovering over his oceans.

I trailed the moon into a silver-hearted dream.

I bathed in a river of blood, I talked with the ravens.

The waves of her verses are washing away my sorrows.

Her emotions closed their eyes and crossed their fingers.

In the lovely spring, she taught my heart to sing.

My heart of only sighs, my heart of night-storms.

the twilight unfolded the soft brightness of its starry ecstasy

The roses of her soul are whispering golden dreams to his heart.

There is thunder in your name, there are memories that sting.

He dragged her into every shade of bliss.

Inside her love, centuries of light.

Was it a mirage or the soul of God?

The skies are drunk with the blue of her eyes.

Her love could fit into the shade of a butterfly’s wing.

We were crowned with the poetry of moon-born dreams.

The evanescent moon of her strange love.

He was the ocean that drowned our love.

We found our bloom in a mystic love.

I fell into the rich depths of her colorful soul

How easily, how heavenly we drifted into kisses.

You twisted your love into a maze.

I recognized the imprisoned songs of her heart.

The blossom melodies of our young love.

How in love we are with our golden cages.

Her heart is a wandering wind caressing the flowers of his soul.

The stars of her undying love are clustering around his joyous heart.

Her wide-winged dreaming, her visions that kiss the stars.

His heart is aflame with ancient sonnets.

You are twilight thunder married to butterflies.

She dances within the poems of his loving emotions.

Rooted in shadows, flowing nowhere.

I dream with the souls of stars.

Her soul is perfumed with night.

We touched with our love the innocence of beautiful moments.

My verses are aflame, the words are shining with an undying love.

The song of her beauty fills the core of my heart with love.

She slept in the silence of the stars.

Divinely kissed by her amorous affections.

Divorced from the richest dream on earth, I am now alone.

His heart spoke with all the fire of his love.

I escaped her scorpion soul.

I taught the moon the chord of love.

Our loving embrace silhouetted against the dreamy ocean.

I felt the fire of her bewildering beauty.

the rising flame of her love’s deep richness

Her heart is swelling with stars of beautiful belief.

The butterflies of Love trades their colours in her heart.

Drowned by the grayness of a two-bit town.

I only speak shadows, darkness is my fire.

She fluttered within the chorus of Love’s sweetest dream.

I dreamt I kissed you in the rain.

the emerald endlessness of her eyes

[thestarwrites]

A Different Time, A Different Place; Ch. 6 -- END

Taihei Chairo was born in the winter, on February 9th, and he grew up a loving, bright, and sensitive young boy. Keri cherished him more than anything on the earth. She did not give him his father's last name. Now that he was five and she was working on her masters degree, her parents helped them get a little apartment of their own- close by of course- so they could babysit when she worked or had class.

And then one fateful spring day after his fifth birthday...

“Mommy look!” Taihei gasped as he kept his eyes glued to the screen. The five year old was the image of his father. Messy blond hair, shining blue eyes, a million dollar smile, “A new hero!! They say his name is All Might!” 

“What?” The woman rushed in from the kitchen, “What was the name?” Her forehead glowed. The sudden anxiety rising in her chest was almost deafening as she came to where her son watched television.

“All Might! Look! There he is!” He pointed to the screen. The blue diamonds on his palms and on his forehead separated him from being an almost perfect of Toshinori. The boy had a quirk, but it hadn’t much manifested yet, “Look how big he is mommy!”

Her big blue eyes fixed on the screen as they filled with tears, “Toshinori...” she put a hand over her mouth.

The boy scrunched his nose, “Mom- you feel- sad- whats the matter??” 

“I- I know him Tai...”

“What! You know that man mom?!”

She pushed her hand over her eyes, trying not to cry. It felt like the air was all kicked out of her lungs at once, “I knew him in high school- I though he was dead.” 

“Well he doesn’t look dead to me,” he said matter-of-fact. 

“Come on Tai- come on get your shoes on I’m taking you to Nana’s okay?”

He looked over confused, “What?! Why?”

“I need to find out why he’s here. I need to find out where he’s been.” She moved to pull on the coat she wore. 

“But mommy I don’t understand!” He frowned. 

She took a shaky breath, “Taihei... my love- come here.” 

He walked over and took his mother’s hand as she pulled him into a hug, “Mom.”

Pulling back she looked at him, pushing her hand in his hair, “Honey... that man on the television... he’s your father.” 

“W-what...?” He looked shocked, “M-my dad? But you said..."

“I said he was gone. That he died. I thought he did die honey...” 

His blue eyes filled with tears, “Well let’s go find him!! I want to know why he didn’t stay!! Why he did that to you!” 

“That’s what I’m going to do baby, but you need to go be with Nana so I can find out first. Maybe it’s all a big misunderstanding?”

“I’ll - I’ll beat him up!” 

She let out a small laugh, “My big brave hero, come on now, mommy’s gonna make things right.” 

“Yes mama.”

 ---------

Her fist pounded on the door, “OPEN UP TORINO I KNOW THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE!” She shouted, still banging. 

The older man sighed and shook his head, he saw Toshinori on television this morning - Keri obviously had as well. Coming to the door he opened it, “Keri. Come in, please.”

She walked inside calmly, “You made him leave, didn’t you.” Her body glowed with pure rage and sorrow. 

“You don’t understand.” 

“OF COURSE I DONT UNDERSTAND!” She yelled, “But no one made any effort to help me to understand did they?!” 

“Keri, please, you need to listen to me.” 

“Oh no. I think you need to listen to me!” She shouted, tears rolling down her cheeks, “You NEVER liked us together. And then you send him away from me? Torino- I was PREGNANT.” 

“I know you were pregnant. You have a little boy named Taihei.” 

Keri was shocked into silence for a moment before she clenched her fists, “You knew?”

“Not when he left but shortly after, yes. Recovery Girl and I have been watching over you.”

She let out a mirthless laugh, “Oh my god! So what? He just didn’t care to try and contact me when he gets home? After almost six years??” 

“Keri. He doesn’t know.” 

Putting a hand over her mouth she started to pace, “Oh my god. You didn’t tell him?! What am i supposed to do! Walk up to him and say; hi Toshi you have a whole ass child?!” 

“Keri!” He grunted, “Listen to me. PLEASE.” 

She crossed her arms and scoffed, “Talk old man.”

“You were one of the very few people to know that Nana Shimura was Toshinori’s mentor. And the reason is because he is her successor. The villain that killed her, he knows who Toshi is, he would have come after him before he was ready to fight. I had to send him to America. He had to be away- somewhere this man wouldn’t find him. No one could know. Before he left he begged me to keep an eye on you, to make sure you weren’t being watched. He wanted you to go with him, but you already had college plans and a family. It was safer for you both this way.” 

She looked down, tears falling down her face as she sank to the floor, sobbing, “I - I thought I would never see him again- I- I missed him more than you could imagine!” 

He frowned, “Let me call him. Tell him to come here.”

Keri looked up, “Torino... is it worth it?”

The older man huffed, “Do you love him?”

“Of course I love him! He was everything to me!”

“Then it’s worth it,” he moved to call Toshinori in the other room. Keri just sat against the wall as he spoke softly into the phone. After about two minutes he came back, “He’s on his way. He doesn’t know you’re here. He’s... Keri, he- he’s going to feel like a failure. You have to keep remembering he had no idea. Whenever I talked to him he would mention how much he missed you. Ask if you were safe.” 

She nodded. 

 “Does your son have a quirk?” He said softly.

Looking up she nodded, “Yeah. Can’t tell what it is yet though. It’s got something to do with mine. But he can’t feel emotions and he can’t do what I can do. So whether or not he knows how to unlock it is the issue.” 

Torino nodded, “I’m sure he’ll be incredible.”

She nodded, “He’s so much like Toshinori.” 

“I’ll bet. I saw him once... when you were at the park with him. Little blond boy. He’s cute.” 

“Thank you...” she sighed.

“Keri- you know I’m being sincere when I say it was the only way to keep you and the baby safe.” 

She nodded, “I can feel your guilt.” 

“Could you forgive me?”

Taking a deep breath she tried to think about her coursework toward being a therapist. What she should do, “I’m angry Torino, I’m angry I had to go through pregnancy and labor at eighteen all alone. And get a job, go to school, care for an infant...” 

The older man nodded and frowned, “I’m sorry.” 

Keri nodded, “I forgive you. You were just looking out for him, for us. You know… I’d like it if you could meet Tai. You’d like him… he’s just like his father.” 

He smiled a little, “I would love to meet hi—" The two were interrupted by a knock at the door. Keri felt her whole body freeze and she looked at Gran Torino, who gave her a nod. Walking across the room, he opened the front door, “Hello Toshinori.”

“Hey! I’m glad to see you again so soon, Master! Whats going on?” 

“There is something we need to talk about. Something I’ve kept from you while you were away.” 

“What? What is it?” 

Suddenly, Keri stepped forward, looking up at Toshinori - he’d gotten so much bigger, “Toshi…” 

His blue eyes snapped to the woman and his eyes welled with tears, “Keri?” 

She smiled and wiped her eyes, laughing a little, “Long time no see.” 

“God- Sunflower- I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he came into the room and knelt in front of her, “I’m so sorry I did this to you.” 

Shaking her head she smiled, reaching out to cup his face, “Torino and I talked. We’re good,” she laughed softly, “You got so huge!” 

He laughed a little and leaned into her palm, “You’re just as beautiful - no, more beautiful than I remember.” He blushed and looked at her, “Are you…I mean - have you been… busy?” 

She smiled, “I was… I was busy hoping somehow you weren’t dead and…” she let her eyes flick up to Torino who nodded, “And too busy going to school, and… and raising our son.” 

His face fell slowly with the realization, “Our…” 

“Our son,” she nodded, “I was trying to figure out how to tell you before you disappeared… I had only just found out and then you were gone.” 

He closed his eyes, “I…. Keri, I am so SO sorry you have had to go through this alone- I should have been here. I should have been here for you, and for our child.” 

She moved closer to him, kneeling with him on the floor, “No- no Toshi it was safer this way. Torino and Recovery Girl were watching over us, though I didn’t know it.” 

All Might turned his head and glared daggers at his mentor before standing up, “YOU KNEW!?” 

“ToshI!” Keri stood, grabbing his arm. 

“YOU KNEW SHE WAS PREGNANT? YOU DIDN’T TELL ME!?” He roared at the older man. Shed never seen him like that before. 

Gran Torino looked up at him, “I didn’t know when you left, I found out when she started showing. You were gone, and I wasn’t about to risk you coming back. It wasn’t safe. For you, or Keri.” 

“HOW COULD YOU!? HOW COULD YOU KEEP MY CHILD FROM ME!? WHAT IF SHE MET SOMEONE ELSE! WHAT IF I DID!?” 

Keri walked up behind him, grabbing his arm, “Toshinori! Stop!” 

“NO! THIS ISN’T RIGHT. HE’S ROBBED SIX YEARS OF OUR LIVES WE COULD HAVE SPENT TOGETHER KERI! HOW CAN YOU TELL ME TO STOP! HOW CAN YOU TELL ME YOU AREN’T ANGRY!” He screamed. 

She knit her brows together, “I thought you were dead for six years. And you’re here, in front of me… and… all all you can do is think to scream at your teacher for protecting us? For doing what your hero training required?” 

“You- don’t."

“No! You don’t. I was the one here raising a baby and going to school and going to work and crying and studying and cleaning up throw up and changing diapers before I was nineteen.” She looked down, “I am not blaming you. I’m not even blaming Torino. Life happened and we’re here now. And you are back in Japan, and you have a son.” She put her hands on her hips and huffed, “Now. What are you going to do about it?” 

The twenty-four year old deflated at the emotion of the woman he loved, and he stepped up to her and he lowered his head, “Well… first… I’m going to ask you if you’re seeing anyone?” 

She scoffed and shook her head, “No… I’m not seeing anyone.” 

He smiled, “Me either. There could never have been anyone but you, Sunflower… I dreamed of coming home to you… hoping you’d… have waited for me.” 

“So what is this?” 

“Well I’m asking you if you’ll be my girl. For good, now that I’m back home where I belong.” 

Keri blushed and smiled, “There's a man in my life you’ll have to ask first, Toshinori.” She reached out and touched his chest, “Come home with me… meet your boy.” 

His eyes welled with tears and he smiled, “My son… what’s his name?” 

“Taihei Chairo… though if you play your cards right it could be Taihei Yagi…” She teased. 

“Taihei — Keri, you named him Peace?” 

Blushing she nodded, “You.. you always said the world needed a symbol of peace… so when you were gone… I…” 

He leaned down, tilting her chin up and beaming, tears running down his face, “I love you. More than life.” Leaning down further he kissed her softly. 

Keri wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back before breaking out into sobs, “Oh Toshi!” 

He held her close as he cried, holding her to him he shushed her gently, “Its gonna be okay baby… you know why?” 

She sniffled and shook her head.

“Because I am here.” He whispered into her ear, “And I am never going to leave you again. Or our son. I know he’s probably going to be mad, but… God I haven’t even met him and I love him — what is he like?” 

She laughed softly, looking up and kissing him again, lovingly, “He’s just like his father. Brave, cheerful, an idealist… he wants to be the number one hero.” 

“He- does he have a quirk?” 

She nodded, “He has markings like mine, but there are more of them and they are smaller. Though we cant figure out what the quirk is yet… but he can’t seem to read emotions or project them so, I’m sure when he can harness it, it’ll come natural.” 

“There are… a lot of things I need to tell you.” He took a deep breath and looked at Torino, “She gets to know, everything.” 

The older man nodded, “Its your burden, Toshinori. If you are going to commit yourself to this woman, then its your call.” 

Keri smiled, “Yeah Toshi? You gonna commit yourself to me?” She laughed softly. 

Toshinori picked her up and she yelped, he grinned his million watt smile, “Keri, I committed to you the day I followed you to that ramen shop for your number. Will you marry me? — Uh, after a little while of course.” 

She gasped a bit, “You- you want me to marry you?” 

He laughed, “Of course I do! I love you, we have a child… I want to provide for you and care for you, and be together until we’re little old people. Keri, please… say yes.” 

Leaning in she kissed him, running her hands in his hair, “Yes… Yes Toshinori Yagi, I will marry you.” 

He spun them around, they laughed and he hugged her close before setting her down, “I’ll have to start looking for a nicer home for us. And don’t you worry about working anymore, okay? You focus on your studies from now on. Then you can spend more time with Taihei.” 

She blushed hard and started to sniffle, “Oh Tosh— you don’t have to…”

“Yes I do. If my hero money can’t go to charity and my family than what good is it? I want to be this. I want to be a husband and a father, and a hero. And I want you to be able to follow your dreams.” 

“Okay Toshi.” 

“Besides,” he smirked, “When I open up my agency, you still have to come and work for me.” 

Keri beamed, “You remembered…” 

He winked and turned to face his mentor. Walking over he sighed and held out his hand, “I’m sorry I yelled at you, sir.” 

Gran Torino smiled a little and shook his hand, “I’m sorry I had to keep something like this from you, my boy. Let me meet the lad soon, eh?” He motioned his head, “Get outta here kids.” 

Keri smiled, “I’ll use Toshi’s phone to text you my number okay? I’ll be in touch about meeting Tai.” 

“Alright, I look forward to it.” 

 ------------

The couple smiled, Toshinori holding her hand as they walked along the street, “I love you.” 

“I love you too, Toshi.” She smiled and took a deep breath, “Taihei is mad you know… he’s the one who saw you on TV. He was really excited there was a new hero and when I heard the name All Might… I knew it was you - I told him that was his daddy. And that II was coming to see you.” 

“I am gonna have to make it up to him.” 

“He said he was gonna beat you up,” she smirked, “He looks just like you Toshi. Unruly blond hair, blue eyes…” 

Toshinori smiled and sighed, “I’m gonna have a lot of explaining to your parents too…” 

“Everyone will understand. You’re a hero, you were being marked by a bad villain, you had to go away. Its a simple and reasonable explanation.” 

“You are taking this so well.” 

She looked up at him, “This morning I was a single mother trying to pay my bills. Now I’m engaged to be married to Japan’s newest and most incredible Hero. And my son has a father.” 

He nodded, “Speaking of engaged, I have to get you a ring.” 

“Nothing big - please? And I’m not just saying that to sound modest.” 

He nodded again, “I know baby, you’re not a show off type of person. It’ll be good, tasteful.” 

“I know honey,” she rubbed his forearm, “Also… what’s going to happen to your popularity when they find out you have a family…” 

“Well, they’re going to want interviews with you, they’re gonna want to be given an exclusive for the wedding…” 

She sighed and smiled, “I guess it comes with the territory of being married to the next number one.” 

He beamed and leaned to kiss her hand, “You think our son will forgive me?” 

“Of course he will. He’s been missing you too. There's a picture of us from back in the day on his night stand. He’ll be mad for a minute but once you explain it, he’ll understand. He is five.” 

“I have a five year old,” he took a deep breath, “Keri, we’re gonna have to have another one.” 

She laughed and looked up, “Oh?” 

“Cause I wanna do this right! I wanna be there for you and your pregnancy and for the babies firsts!” He blushed, “I mean, I know I still have a lot of firsts for Taihei but… you know… a man wants to have more than one kid…” 

“I’ll consider your application and let you know when I make a decision, but I have to say I’m leaning toward yes… it was a compelling case.” She smirked. 

He grabbed her waist and gave it a squeeze as they walked up to Keri’s parents house. 

“I’m sweating.” 

“You’re seven feet tall and built like the Great Wall of china, don’t worry, you’re gonna be fine.” She knocked on the door. 

The sound of small excited footsteps ran to the front door, “Who is it?!” Cried the voice of the small boy. 

Toshi put a hand over his mouth, hearing his son’s voice for the first time. 

“Its your loving mother!” She called back. 

Taihei flung open the door and jumped into his mothers arms. She laughed and spun him around kissing his cheek before setting him down. Taking a deep breath she cupped his cheek, “Taihei… this is Toshinori Yagi, your dad.” 

“H-hey, Taihei…” 

The boy looked up at him and blushed, tears welling in his eyes, “Y-you look… different than your picture….” 

“I did get a little bigger while I was away…” he gave a small smile. 

Taihei started to cry, All Might knelt down instantly, “Why didn’t you want us— why— why did you leave? D-did you not want me?” 

“Oh no- no Taihei… no that’s not it at all.” 

“Then why! Why did you leave me and mom!” The boy’s forehead and palms started to glow blue before his entire body became engulfed in blue energy. 

“Honey- calm down,” Keri looked surprised - this had never happened before. 

“WHY DID YOU LEAVE US ALL ALONE!?” Punctuated on the alone was a burst of energy that shot forward, knocking All Might over and onto the ground. It looked like a… beam of some kind. Like rings of light flying from his body and hitting his father, “WHY DIDN’T YOU LOVE US ENOUGH?!” 

Sliding onto his ass he put his arm up to try and shield himself from the burst attacks coming from his son, “Taihei— ah—“ he looked down as blood started coming from his forearm. 

“Taihei! Stop it!” Keri’s hand flew to his back, her form glowing pink, “Calm down- calm down baby… please…” 

As soon as the boy was calmed enough by his mother to stop crying, he ran toward Toshinori and jumped into his arms, sobbing, “Dad I’m sorry!” 

He looked at Keri with wide eyes as he wrapped his large arms around his son, crying himself, “Don’t be sorry, son… that was incredible! You’re so strong!” After taking a deep breath, he rubbed the back of his head, “I’m the one that’s sorry Taihei… for not being here for you when you needed me.” The boy just kept crying, hugging his father’s neck. Toshi continued, “When I was younger, there was a really bad man after me. My teacher tried to fight him to stop him, and she died… and after that, your mom was the only person I cared for in the whole world. And to make sure she stayed safe… and didn’t get hurt by the bad man - I had to go away for a while. But I didn’t know she was going to have you… and your mom didn’t know where I went… I couldn’t tell her. To protect her. But I knew I was going to come back. And once I did I was gonna find her. But - I guess she found me first.” 

Taihei sniffled and looked at him, “What happened to the bad man?” 

He took a deep breath, “Someday I’m sure I’ll have to fight him. But its not today. Today I’m not a hero - I’m just your dad. And I am so lucky to be able to meet you, and tell you how much I love you.” 

“You’re not gonna leave again…?” 

Smiling he wiped the boys cheeks gingerly, “No, Tai, I’m staying right here. Your mom and I were talking about getting a house. Would you like that?” 

“A house!? You mean like - with a yard!?” He gasped. 

Toshi laughed and nodded, “Yeah, a yard just for you to play in. We can play any time you want and mom wont have to work so hard anymore. She can focus on school and her dreams.” 

“You… you really wanna do this for us?” Tai sniffed. 

Toshinori leaned forward and kissed his head, “Son, I would move the stars in the sky if you wanted me to. I will never leave you again. I promise.” 

Taihei hugged him again, “I- I love you dad!” 

Keri was fanning her eyes, “You two are absolutely killing me!” She was smiling so brightly looking at her two boys. 

“Come over here then, mama!” Toshinori smirked and opened his other arm. 

Tai laughed, “Yeah mom! Come here!” 

Keri laughed and walked over, sitting on Toshinori’s thigh and wrapping her arms around both her son and her fiancé, “I love you both, more than life.” She kissed Taihei’s cheek, and then Toshinori’s. 

All might just held onto them both, “I am the luckiest man in the whole world to have such a beautiful family…” 

“You’re gonna stay at our home until we get a new one, right dad?” 

Toshi looked at his girl and she nodded. Grinning he looked at him, “Your home is right where I want to be.” 

“OUR home, dad.” Tai hugged him again. 

Keri leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips, “Yes Toshi, our home.” 

Toshi sighed contented and then blinked, “Hey! Are we gonna talk about that quirk, boy!? That was incredible!” 

Tai blushed, “Th-that’s never happened to me before! I - I was so angry that I… I don’t know I… I could feel it bursting out of me…. like… like…” 

“Like a supernova,” Keri smiled, “Like a little exploding star!” 

“Supernova!” Toshinori grinned, “That’s a great hero name!” 

The little family talked softly there on the lawn of her parents home, holding each other and sharing little stories and jokes. And for the first time in a long time, even since coming back to Japan, Toshinori felt like he was truly home. He finally had a family.

 And he promised himself he was going to be the best husband and father that there ever was...

THE END -- for now.

[solariscitrus]

what flavor is your soul?

Oriol: salt

ah little kraken, bold are you. restless sailor, dauntless fighter, lower your sword, let me see your shield. ah, of course, they are but the same object. oh wave-tossed ruffian, lend me some of your mettle would you? you have been struck by the sharpest of spears yet you still stand here proudly. but off your guard, elsewhere of the battlefield, you will find your spirit can parch others. your words are but weapons crafted from your soul. little lion, sheathe your claws, or the ones you love the most will suffer. you do not have to be strong all the time love, there's nothing wrong with being soft. vulnerability is not weakness, and if it were, what's wrong with that? strength is not always your greatest tool, your heart is good. put down excalibur, and use your words. you'll find they will carry you much farther. not everything in life is a battle.

Hideyoshi: honey

"sugared mel e lingua serpentis." sugared honey from a serpent's tongue. oh dearest, look how you gleam. how the sunlight dances off your shoulders, how the heavens shine across your wingtips. but you are hollow, hollow, hollow. even the taste of nectar can choke a man. sometimes the sweetest flowers hide the sharpest poison. you lie to yourself, the worst lie of all. you needn't be so obsessed with perfect. the greatest beauty lies in our faults. do you think the moon apologizes for their mara? no, their craters add to their glow. my dear, breathe. you are not an island, breathe, before the honey drowns you. you wish to be lovely, you long to be loved. but did aphrodite trade her powers for perfection? she did not. you can be beautiful, and also whole. be whole above anything else dear. a heart of diamonds is worth nothing if inchor oozes from it. inward. look within and question how well do you know yourself? little petal are you trying to be a god? why? can a god bloom from sullen soil? no. you are whole as you are.

Jūrō: mint

oh spry little dryad, spinning sprite, you drift through life as light as lion down. you are the chimes of churchbells and the laughter of faeries. gossamer and spidersilk shine from your ribs. life is fleeting, you more than anyone should know that. something we love today may never see tomorrow's sun. you pride yourself on skipping through moments, soft and merry. but you do not let your soul be tethered. is it for freedom or fear, sweetheart, that you do not let yourself be tamed? you are as fresh as and wild as bluebirds in snow, you smile at your problems before dashing away. hoping they will never catch up to you but even nike can't run forever. you have been hurt before. but that is life. you wish to never feel that way again, but regretfully I must tell you that is nothing short of impossible. life is but part sorrow part sun, you cannot have teacups until they are burned by the kiln. oh I see the scars child, they shimmer down your chest, I see the pain in your eyes. but I also see the stardust. keep smiling, but allow tears also. you do not have to be solely wonder, fear, you are allowed to be bitter. so bite, and scream, and laugh, and love. that is what makes life worth living.

Nen: lavender

oh moon child, restless sleeper, tell me what it's like to dream? you float along the margins of reality, picking up the pieces of fallen memories to sculpt into your own realm. you are searching, but your tongue is quiet, quiet, quiet. open your mouth and sing my dear, silence only does you good for so long. and here you planted roots in the darkness, where not even the moon can reach your leaves. there is such a thing as being too practical, for you sail your ship on perpetually calm waters, and never have you spotted land. your mind has wings, uncage them! allow yourself to dream, you are not too far gone. there is no such thing! trust in yourself dear.

[edenmemes]

apex legends sentence starters

❝ have you prepared for your end? i have. ❞ ❝ be careful. i don’t carry all these weapons for nothing. ❞ ❝ fear is my currency. ❞ ❝ this didn’t have to be your end. you chose this fate. ❞ ❝ let's not finish quickly. where's the fun in that? ❞ ❝ so i like to have a little fun. so what? ❞ ❝ we'll get along beautifully, just don't touch my things. ❞ ❝ you might be of use to me yet. ❞ ❝ your will to fight is admirable...but in this cae, pointless. ❞ ❝ you fight without honor. stragetic. ❞ ❝ you shuld have scurried away when you had the chance. ❞ ❝ either you're with me or you're against me, or you're with me and against me, cause  that happens sometimes. ❞ ❝ a faint heart never won a lady like me. ❞ ❝ what’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is mine. ❞ ❝ there’s a void in your heart. ❞ ❝ you're not the first blemish i’ve cut away. you won’t be the last. ❞ ❝ i’m always dressed to kill. ❞ ❝ would you like a kiss to make it better? ❞ ❝ a gun is like a beautiful woman. hold her tight, or someone else will. ❞ ❝ don’t go thinking i owe you anything. ❞ ❝ business is my pleasure. ❞ ❝ i had dreamt of quiet like that, but now that i had it, i was terrified. and alone. ❞ ❝ trust the gust of the wind. ❞ ❝ you got blood on my shoes! ❞ ❝ the quickest way to a man’s heart is through the chest. ❞ ❝ looking for me? here i am. ❞ ❝ the secret to life ain’t happiness. it’s knowing the unhappy times won’t last forever. ❞ ❝ i used to fear many things, but that man is gone. ❞ ❝ we had fun, right? i had fun. ❞ ❝ i love you. and i can’t wait to start our life together. ❞ ❝ i didn’t do it for you. ❞ ❝ you may be stronger, but i’m smarter. ❞ ❝ get up before i kill you myself. ❞ ❝ what if your parents could see this now? ❞ ❝ this is the only life i know. ❞ ❝ the one you should have concerns with is me. ❞ ❝ you are a good killer, aren’t you? ❞ ❝ you are no coward. remember that. ❞ ❝ don’t be embarassed. it happens to everyone...sometimes. ❞ ❝ there is more honor in death than in life without test. ❞ ❝ when you have nothing else to lose, it’s easy to win. ❞ ❝ knowledge is power...and pain. ❞ ❝ get your claws off of me. ❞ ❝ i ain’t afraid of you, you hear me? ❞ ❝ goodnight, beautiful. ❞ ❝ it’s not just about having it. it’s about taking it. ❞ ❝ maybe we’ll be friends next time. ❞ ❝ i had to claw my way to the top. do you think i’m going to let you stop me? ❞ ❝ in another life, this may have been different. ❞ ❝ this didn’t have to happen. ❞ ❝ you got this. just look in front of you, behind you, above you, all at once. you'll be fine. ❞ ❝ i swore i'd never waste my life on a vendetta again. don't test that vow. ❞ ❝ you’re either ready or you’re an idiot. ❞ ❝ don’t worry, i still love you. ❞ ❝ take your pride, and cherish it. ❞ ❝ i love when the spotlight’s on me. ❞ ❝ the most beautiful creatures have the deadliest venom. ❞ ❝ i make it look easy, don’t i? ❞ ❝ maybe i’ll let you live to tell the tale...maybe not. ❞ ❝ alright so my place is a little sloppy, so what? doesn't mean i'm a mess in the field. ❞ ❝ smell that? that’s the sweet aroma of fear. ❞ ❝ i want your heart. ❞ ❝ is everything you do half-assed? ❞ ❝ it’s hell. every second of my existence is hell. ❞ ❝ you’ve been marked for death. ❞ ❝ step quieter next time. ❞ ❝ wanna take me out? i’ll buy the drinks. ❞ ❝ i’ve been through hell to get here. ❞ ❝ look into my eyes. i want to remember this. ❞ ❝ what made you think you were special? ❞ ❝ beg for your life. it’s good for both of us. ❞ ❝ next time you’ll do better. ❞ ❝ teammates are good. they do nicely as shields. ❞ ❝ go on, it’s okay to be afraid. ❞ ❝ champion, challenger...means little if you die. ❞ ❝ brought to your knees by a beautiful woman? don’t be surprised. ❞ ❝ you should have stayed home today. ❞ ❝ your skill isn’t half bad. ❞ ❝ i strike swift and deadly like my dad. he called it "business", i call it a party. ❞ ❝ a lady never kills and tells. ❞ ❝ most beautiful things are fragile. not me. ❞ ❝ you and i are not equals. ❞ ❝ and here’s what’s left of your legacy. ❞ ❝ they made me a killing machine. who am i to argue with programming? ❞ ❝ don’t worry, i’m just perfect. ❞ ❝ pick out something nice for me, won’t you? ❞ ❝ so tell me, one liar to another, what brings you here? ❞ ❝ i’m a man eater and a lady killer. i enjoy the variety. ❞ ❝ i knew this would happen, just didn’t know when. ❞ ❝ i know more than you will ever know. ❞ ❝ you think i’m going to help you? it’ll be a cold day in hell before i ever help someone like you. ❞ ❝ what...you think just ‘cause i’ve only known you for a day, that i don’t know you? ❞ ❝ if you think you’re dying, it can kill you. ❞ ❝ you can’t be overdressed or overarmed. ❞ ❝ follow me and i’ll gut you like a fish. ❞ ❝ half of you is always in shadow, no matter how well lit the room is. ❞ ❝ i’m the diamond, you’re the rough. ❞ ❝ you can rest now...i never will. ❞ ❝ men. if they had half a brain, they’d be considered gifted. ❞ ❝ quit your whinging and fight. ❞ ❝ i know if we fought together, things would be different. ❞ ❝ pain...death...nothing phases me. ❞ ❝ they say you’re most alive when you’re in love. ❞ ❝ your final hour can’t be escaped. embrace it. ❞ ❝ i may not look like a fighter, but strength isn’t everything. ❞ ❝ you ain’t that bright if you want to take me on. ❞ ❝ come on, you can’t forget this face. ❞ ❝ we are our future, not our past. ❞ ❝ my light shines bright. ❞ ❝ no one is truly innocent, so we all deserve help. ❞ ❝ i just got you back in my life. i can’t lose you again. ❞ ❝ i once shot someone for just not giving me a message. but that shouldn't scare you...much. ❞ ❝ don’t blame yourself, i deserve the credit. ❞ ❝ never forget that no matter how big you are, the world is always bigger. ❞ ❝ don’t confuse my kindness with weakness. ❞ ❝ i can already smell the blood. ❞ ❝ no, it’s ‘vintage’. there’s a difference. ‘old’ is bad. ‘vintage’ is good. ❞ ❝ like a deer in the headlights...and i’m the headlights. ❞ ❝ you’re looking at a fighter. what am i looking at? ❞ ❝ you need to love what you do, care about what you do, and believe in your ability to do what you do. ❞ ❝ i don’t fear anything. can you say the same? ❞ ❝ we all have our reasons. don’t take this personally. ❞ ❝ let’s just say a little birdie told me all about you. ❞ ❝ that little voice saying there’s still hope? it’s lying. ❞ ❝ shhh...it’s just a bad dream. ❞ ❝ do you have any more questions that might illuminate your ignorance? ❞ ❝ i’m tired of you saving my life. ❞ ❝ does this mean we’re friends now? ❞ ❝ somebody has to lose. that’s just how this works. ❞ ❝ i’m sorry it had to be this way. ❞ ❝ you can only trust those who you know are liars. ❞ ❝ it’s an honor to fight alongside someone with the passion of fire that burns a thousand suns. ❞ ❝ i can see it in your eyes that you have the courage to climb to your rightful place over those who wronged you. ❞ ❝ i know what you’re looking for. come see me. ❞ ❝ may the gods bless you. ❞ ❝ what a sad little creature you are. ❞ ❝ you call yourself a legend? how unwarranted. ❞ ❝ i know what i like, and i know how to get it. ❞ ❝ you’ve got to watch your back. you can’t trust others to do it for you. ❞ ❝ you found me. good eyes. ❞ ❝ someone had to show you your place. ❞ ❝ greed will eat your mortal sorrow. ❞ ❝ you burned bright, but you burned out. ❞ ❝ you did your best...unfortunately. ❞ ❝ want advice? shoot first. ❞ ❝ think carefully about what brought you to this moment. very carefully. ❞ ❝ that may have felt like overkill. it was. ❞ ❝ i’ve seen it all. today’s no different. ❞ ❝ without pain the body suffers in silence. ❞ ❝ bleed, patch, and keep moving. ❞ ❝ i’m not hard to understand. death is my language. ❞ ❝ the biggest trap is your own mind. ❞ ❝ don’t look for sympathy. you won’t find it. ❞ ❝ you can beg for mercy. it won’t help, but go on. ❞ ❝ you’re already falling for me. ❞ ❝ they’ve already forgotten you. ❞ ❝ i’m a lone wolf with a bite. ❞ ❝ don’t beat yourself up. leave that to me. ❞ ❝ another day, another road. ❞ ❝ look for me, and what you wil see you will never forget. ❞ ❝ watch out: i’ll eat you alive. ❞ ❝ labels are a curse, and a target. ❞ ❝ this direction calls to me. let us go. ❞ ❝ you did not fail. you played your part to its end. ❞ ❝ do i have something on my face? you look at me strangely. ❞ ❝ i’ve been described as deadly and beautiful, but i am also approachable. ❞ ❝ humanity is just a word. ❞ ❝ i don’t settle. i’m not made that way. ❞ ❝ the sheer terror that comes with dying...i remember it well. ❞ ❝ now this...this is worth living for. ❞ ❝ once a fight gets too noisy, i bring the silence. ❞ ❝ i don’t consider death cruel, but life is. ❞ ❝ what’s your name? i have to know. ❞ ❝ you should smile more. ❞ ❝ even when you are helping, you are appalling. ❞ ❝ life won’t flash before your eyes. it just...ends. ❞ ❝ the rabbit’s cries brings the wolves. ❞ ❝ so then again i ask, why the frown? ❞ ❝ i hope you rot in hell for what you’ve done. ❞ ❝ i like my women like i like my sake: cool and filtered and on someone else’s tab. ❞ ❝ only fight the battles you know you can win. ❞ ❝ i wanted you to know: you’re still here. at my side. in my heart. in my ear. on the tip of my tongue. and you always will be. ❞ ❝ my former collegues would have eaten you alive. ❞ ❝ i will crush everything that stands in my way. everything. ❞ ❝ i am the master of my fate. ❞ ❝ you fight without honor. stragetic. but you also fight without skill. ❞ ❝ rats can be taught. you are something lesser. ❞ ❝ cast off your fear. now is the time for fascination. ❞ ❝ you’ve got a face like a wet weekend, mate. ❞ ❝ i never forget. i wait for your inevitable misstep. ❞ ❝ i’ll regret that decision until the day i die. ❞ ❝ sometimes you get tired of running, i understand, but you can’t ever stop. ❞ ❝ no one is coming to save you. no one ever was. ❞ ❝ i see my reputation precedes me. ❞ ❝ you’re a fragile little fly, just like the others. i’ll pull your wings off eventually. ❞ ❝ i wish there was more time to spend with you. ❞ ❝ i kept you in the dark about a lot of things...it sounds bad, but it was safer if you didn’t know. ❞ ❝ i pray you found peace. that, above all else, is what matters the most. ❞ ❝ i find no pleasure in taking a life that doesn’t appreciate it. ❞ ❝ ever get the feeling you’re not alone? you’re not. ❞  ❝ there’s still time to run. ❞ ❝ are you still watching? good. this next part is just for you.  ❞ ❝ you kill, i create. this is why i win. ❞ ❝ i fight for the accused, the cursed...the exceptional. ❞ ❝ do not believe any rumors about me that i have not started. ❞ ❝ i don’t figure myself as the best. just as everyone else being the worst. ❞ ❝ you mind if i don’t feel bad for you? right, thanks mate. ❞ ❝ time to go home to your loved ones. ❞ ❝ stand out, or stand aside. ❞ ❝ if you don’t like what you see, put a bag over your head. ❞ ❝ legend...huh. sometimes we all pretend to be something we’re not. ❞ ❝ i’ve been watching you. ❞ ❝ i will not be cast aside. ❞ ❝ i know what i came for. i’ll get it one way or another. ❞ ❝ you can only hide from the inevitable from so long. ❞ ❝ until we meet again. ❞ ❝ if i flirt with you, will that make you move faster? ❞ ❝ no. you don’t get to die before i do. ❞ ❝ you alright, mate? looking a bit messy. ❞ ❝ why can’t i just die already? ❞ ❝ do not look away. courage first, my friend. ❞ ❝ it appears intelligence is just a word to you. ❞ ❝ i’ve never heard of you. ❞ ❝ sometimes you lose, sometimes you’re me. ❞ ❝ quitting is for losers. ❞ ❝ i do not fight to be accepted. i fight to be free of your acceptance. ❞ ❝ know your place. ❞ ❝ cherish the lesson you’re about to learn. ❞ ❝ i do not wait for inspiration; i take it. ❞ ❝ can’t let your guard down because if you do, someone better will take advantage of it. ❞ ❝ i’m also a good liar. ❞ ❝ you will achieve greatness. just not in victory. ❞ ❝ do not hide your true colours. they are your strength. ❞ ❝ a lady never kills and tells. ❞ ❝ you saved me. careful, people will talk. ❞ ❝ i’m not one for bragging but... ❞ ❝ sure, you have reasons. don't we all. ❞ ❝ fancy seeing you here. figured you’d be dead by now. ❞ ❝ that looked like it hurt. ❞ ❝ don’t take this personally but i just don’t like your style. or your face. or just literally anything about you. ❞ ❝ science is precise...as am i. ❞ ❝ didn’t your parents teach you manners? ❞ ❝ i have no regrets. it’s not in my dna. ❞ ❝ this isn’t personal. you’re just in my way. ❞ ❝ don’t blame yourself. you have a whole family that failed you. ❞ ❝ want advice? stay out of my way. ❞ ❝ my methods are only controversial to those who lack imagination. ❞ ❝ you can run, you can hide, but you can’t escape yourself. ❞ ❝ have you said your goodbyes? ❞ ❝ i’d thank everyone who helped me get here, but they’re all dead. ❞ ❝ no flirting. ❞ ❝ too bad your parents aren’t here to see this. ❞ ❝ careful, i’ll steal more than just your heart. ❞ ❝ where’s your sense of style? ❞ ❝ can’t any of you stop me? unlikely. ❞ ❝ a mind is like a blade...mine is hone. yours is dull. ❞ ❝ many have made the mistake of crossing me. many more will make it today. ❞ ❝ well, i suppose i would’ve understimated me too. ❞ ❝ ah, well that was a little careless of you, love. ❞ ❝ this isn’t between you and me. this is between you and a promise i mean to keep. ❞ ❝ this is your problem. you give up too easily! ❞ ❝ the truth. tell me the truth. ❞ ❝ you had an opportunity to impress me...what a waste. ❞ ❝ what you attempt to do to me comes back to you...tenfold. ❞ ❝ the best revenge is cold as steel. ❞ ❝ i have crushed far more impressive fighters than you. ❞ ❝ let nothing distract you from the fight. ❞ ❝ the competition is lacking. i’ve had no choice but to step in personally. ❞ ❝ the war might be over...but the fight isn’t. never is. ❞ ❝ don’t go making that face at me. you know full well you signed up for this. ❞ ❝ ooh, could get messy, i’m afraid. ❞ ❝ a powerful woman knows what she wants. ❞ ❝ you and me are in this together. remember that. ❞ ❝ i’m not going to make it quick. that’ll spoil the fun. ❞ ❝ i’ll break your heart. and then i’ll break everything else. ❞ ❝ aww, you think you’re tough? ❞ ❝ beauty is pain. ❞ ❝ oh no, did that hurt darling? ❞ ❝ i fought nightmares all my life. you don’t scare me. ❞ ❝ your achievements are as meaningless as you are. ❞ ❝ come on, let’s see if we’re a match. ❞ ❝ you know, deep down, the real curse? is loving you. ❞ ❝ you’re supposed to be a killer. so prove it. ❞ ❝ there's a reason you put up all those walls... ❞ ❝ you've received the gift of life, and what do you do with it? make it all about you. ❞ ❝ how else did you expect it to end? alone. unwanted. and deservedly unloved. ❞ ❝ no one gives a crap who’s better, all i care about is who’s the best. ❞ ❝ you think you’ll make out of this alive? ❞ ❝ you’ve spent your whole life hiding behind someone else’s shadow. ❞ ❝ you devoted life to a fairy tale, shunning every soul who bothered to care about you.   ❞ ❝ i don’t want to kill you, but you’re in my way. ❞ ❝ face death with dignity...or don’t. ❞ ❝ no more running. not from the fortune you waste, the friends you manipulate, or the parents who can't stand you. misery can't be outrun. ❞ ❝ least you’re not becoming your mom, right? ❞ ❝ you chose this emptiness. sink in it. ❞ ❝ no thanks needed. buy me a drink, though. ❞ ❝ you are not indestructible as you think. come on. ❞ ❝ you're not used to feeling this way. powerless. ineffective. impotent. well, there's a first time for everything. ❞ ❝ talk about them again. i dare you. ❞ ❝ i have centuries of self-loathing to work through. ❞ ❝ it’s not worth it. shut it down. give up. ❞ ❝ i’m just pulling your leg, it’s totally for the babes. ❞ ❝ if i can be honest, i just like the killing. ❞ ❝ make a corpse, and you’ll get some flies. ❞ ❝ oh, you...i love our banter. ❞ ❝ it isn’t easy. i just make it look that way. ❞ ❝ you’re worse than i remembered - somehow. ❞ ❝ unfortunately, some jobs don’t go according to plan. ❞ ❝ i was...careless. too attached. ❞ ❝ my focus is on a greater goal. i cannot be distracted. ❞ ❝ i ain’t staying down. never do. ❞ ❝ too bad your mama and papa aren't here. i would've enjoyed seeing their disgust at the monster their little girl has become. ❞ ❝ i've been knocked down, taken out, hit from both sides hundreds of times. ❞ ❝ i'm growing as a person, but i’m still me. ❞ ❝ i can’t say i’m pleased with how deep you dug into my past. ❞ ❝ the hell with that and the hell with you. ❞ ❝ you think you’re the victim? what about me? what about what i lost? ❞ ❝ i always pay my respects to your family. does that make me soft? ❞ ❝ i was bored until you came along. ❞ ❝ do not cross me, or my blade will cross you. ❞ ❝ when you’re after a big prize, you don’t just walk in and take it. first, you have to do the legwork. ❞ ❝ let’s take a seat, this might take awhile. ❞ ❝ if i ever let you down, it’s probably because i grew tired of carrying you. ❞ ❝ i don’t want to be here anymore than you do. ❞ ❝ then comes my favourite part...the screaming. ❞ ❝ i plan on getting under your skin. ❞ ❝ they say i use humor as a defense mechanism. ❞ ❝ any last words? i must know. ❞ ❝ don’t bother trying to find me. i’ll find you. ❞ ❝ last people i killed looked hopeful too. ❞  ❝ i don’t do this for fame or glory. i do this for fun. ❞ ❝ being human is overrated. ❞

[mysteriesgalplusdamianthings]

Dream Lovers

Finally!!! we're here, day one of #damimapsdecember!!!

All 31 prompts will be posted on Ao3, I'll just be posting a few that I really like here. The link is below, I wasn't sure how to make the link smaller... Oh well... Anyways I explained everything on my first chapter on Ao3 so let's just get right into the story.

A big shout out to @damimapsclub for making this happen I had a lot of fun writing these.

Day 1: Soulmate

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27815542

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It was so cold, dark, and empty. She's sinking slowly into the endless void; as if she were drowning.

Was she drowning?

Or was she dying?

Is this what it felt like to die? Well, she didn't know, and she didn't care. Her body refuses to move, to see, to breathe, to swim. Her soul must have been at sea for far too long; as if it's forgotten the feeling of solid ground.

Yet, her heart aches for someone, anyone, to save her from plunging any deeper into the abyss. 

No... she can't just give up, no one was going to save her. She needs to save herself before it was too late. But how was she supposed to do that when her body refuses to budge?

Nevertheless, that wasn't going to stop her from trying. She began to peg away, starting small would be sensible, best to start with her hands then. She began stretching out her fingers one by one until she felt strong enough to arch one of them.

Luckily, she was able to wriggle her pinky, then her middle, then her thumb with a bit more effort she was able to move all ten fingers. Maybe if she tried hard enough she'd be able to sway more than just her digits, like her hands. 

With some effort, she began her attempt at driving her hands up and down, but it was to no avail, she was only able to move her fingers. She tried again and again, but unfortunately... she couldn't pull through.

It felt like ages until she finally gave in, she was paralyzed to do anything more than wiggle her small fingers. She didn't have the strength to go on anymore and stopped moving altogether.

A dull fear weighed heavy in her heart as she felt herself sink deeper and deeper into despair, her body felt frozen as ice. 

Her soul felt battered and drained.  

Was this it? Was this all she could offer? She didn't want to die, not like this. Tears flowed through her closed eye sockets, droplets drifting out around her like diamonds. Tearful and quivering like a leaf, she released her anguish through small whimpers and moans.

Her tears scattered ubiquitously like stars in her deep dark void, hopeless in her struggles to move once more, she finally gave in to her fate. Her soul throbbed painfully in her chest, painfully burning a hole through her. It was trying to escape.

Her soul fiercely quivered grueling and rapid, until it was fluttering over her lifeless body. 

Her lifeless eyes flew open, as she opened her mouth for a breath, but she could not gasp for air, her body was limp floating in a sea of her tears.

Her gaze fell onto what she could only assume was her soul; her life. It was abnormally bright, white as snow, and in the shape of a heart. 

It was a sort of brightness that ignited something beautiful within, it was quite breathtaking to look at truly, but sadly she could not reach for it.

The little figure began swishing around back and forth, up and down, side to side in a hurried manner. It seemed like it was looking for something?

The woman soon noticed her body was descending headlong down into her deep and inky black hole. Slipping farther away from her soul, despite how far she's sunk, she can still feel the warmth radiating from the small presence. 

Yet, her whole body still chilled to her very bones. 

This was it, it's over now she deemed. She slowly closed her eyes giving into the emptiness surrounding her, it was all she could do at this point.

There's no one here to save her, she felt absolutely nothing. No pain, no sorrow, no strength... just hollowed. This was fine. This was fine she repeated over and over again attempting to convince herself. This was- abruptly the woman felt warmth grip her entire body for dear life.

Immediately, she was engulfed in what felt like the sun itself, her eyes hazed and blurred from her tears when she suddenly caught a glimpse of a golden being.

His grip tightened like a vice, soon her whole world grew brighter and more brilliant by the second.

Her body didn't feel so cold anymore, she knew life was once again beating throughout her body. 

She wanted to test out her theory and started moving her fingers and surprisingly she was able to do so? Not only was she capable to move her finger but she was also able to double-clutch her hands, she then shook her arms, wiggle her feet, and legs, and twist her head.

She could even breathe again? What was going on? How was this happening?

Her body began floating upwards now and her tears now molded into clear crystals.

Her eyes opened wide in wonder and color.

The woman took a deep breath in what felt like forever. The golden being floated away from her giving her space as she hovered up-right, she began taking in larger gulps of air catching her breath.

The golden being stayed close, arms outstretched on either side of her as if it was afraid she'd fall again. Once she eventually caught her breath she glanced around twirling her body around as she goes, she was finally free.

Despite her overwhelming emotions flooding through her, she was still surrounded by shadows. Yet, the golden being who now rises before her is shining and illuminates in the dark, exquisitely. She felt... surprisingly safe.

The woman watched her soul circle around the golden being joyfully swishing back and forth, it lightly flutters towards it, nuzzling itself onto its face.

The golden being patted her soul gently and watched it glow livelier jumping around playfully.

The girl began to chuckle at the display, she reached out her hand towards her soul ushering it to come towards her, it happily did so plopped itself into her hand as its beat slowed down to a lull. 

The woman kissed it gently placing it atop her chest.

Putting her soul back where it belonged.

Her body glowed vividly covering her from head to toe in pure white, feeling her soul throb in her chest once again filled her with everlasting comfort. She smiled towards herself patting her chest comfortingly making sure what she felt was real.

Suddenly the light from the golden being dimed a bit giving him a very distinguished outlook. It formed into what looked like a boy? He was quite built and lean, tall as well. He eagerly placed his golden hands on her cheeks benevolently cupping her face.

He leaned in closer to her face rubbing its forehead upon hers whispering something she couldn't really understand. 

Its voice echoed all around them, she couldn't comprehend what he was saying but knew he was trying to communicate.

She rustled back asking him to repeat himself.

Only to get more incoherent whispering. She shook her head trying to indicate that she couldn't understand him.

He took the hint and stopped talking, the two hovered unsure on how to interact with one another.

Although the young maiden felt that was unnecessary, there was a sort of heartfelt bond between the two already. Something she's felt before, but unsure where?

His presence does seem familiar in an unusual unearthly way? She thought to herself. She gazed at the pure being for a moment more before she reached her hands out cupping his face as well, the golden being didn't seem to mind as he nestled rightfully so into her palms.

His hands that were still cupsful of her cheeks, began rubbing her cheekbones with his thumb brushing her radiant hair behind her ear lovingly. She was radiating with excitement and affection, yes this felt natural, correct even.

Where these things lovers would normally do? The woman wasn't sure what this being meant to her... but she knew it was something out of this world.

Her lover encircled his arms around her in a moment and she let her head rest upon his chest. All her thoughts stopped in that instant as if her heart took over from her head.

He clutches her close as if he needed to confirm that she was really there with him, and real... and she was, body, mind, and soul.

If she could, she would wrap herself up in his arms and dream soundly than a baby. He was the sweetest sight in her eyes.

She supposes that's what attraction felt like, but it couldn't be, this feels so deep... as if this were the start of a song that plays on and on, something so soothing; so comforting to her soul.

Oh, she begs on every spectrum, on every velvet of clouds and acres of blue, that this being right here, right now, is her better-half she's dreamed of for so very long.

Unaware of the two, their lights began to shine gloriously. 

Dispersing the dark from around them completely, the void was now swirling encompassing them exceedingly fast.

The two intertwined their hands as their bodies result into tearing apart piece by piece. Her vision became unclear as the void created a massive gap, she heard voices coming from it?

The golden being let loose of his hold on her and gradually slip his hand away from hers. The woman quickly snatched his ripped up arm hoping to hold onto him just a bit longer, she didn't want to lose him, she didn't even know his name.

The golden being placed a gentle kiss on her ear whispering his final message before releasing her completely. She let out a cry before she was sucked into the giant hole watching as what little was left of him vanish into the swirling void.

Then without warning, it was dark again, just like her void. But something was different this time she heard distant voices.

"It's a miracle she's alive." Someone shouted staggeringly.

Voices.

"Oh my god! honey come see this, Maps is breathing again." Shouted a woman cheerfully.

Maps? Oh right, that was her name. 

"Maps my baby... t-this is a miracle, Kyle looks at this, your sister is alive!" Maps heard a deeper voice call for another as rapid footsteps were approaching her.

Oh, how she wanted to open her eyes, so desperately.

"H-how is this possible she was..." Maps heard sobbing ensue and a collective amount of weeping, the softer voice wrapped his arms around her pulling her into a deep hug. He smelled like pin trees and musk, Maps wrinkled her nose at the scent. 

Why was everyone so sad?

"I'll go get the doctor, you two stay here in case anything changes." Maps heard a woman say as her heels clicked hurriedly away. Maps felt a heavy hand gently rouse her bangs to the side only for it to slip right back into place.

"Don't worry, mom is going to get some help you just rest up alright." Whispered the heavier voice, he must be her dad then? 

This must be her family?

Maps finally opened her eyes, raw and blinded by the intense light in the room, as a warmth weighed dens on her chest, her lungs buttery soft.

"Dad?" she was astounded at how soft and meaningless her voice seemed now. But now that she could see, she lazily took in her surrounding.

She was surrounded by four white walls and pale blue curtains, she looked towards her dad and brother and then down at herself.

She was dressed in thin white clothing, wrapped in a thick white blanket, this was a hospital. "Yes, I'm right here, oh my god, you really did come back." Her dad said still seeming unconvinced.

Come back? From what? Wait, I think I remember...

She somewhat recalls falling down something, and her body felt limp and cold. But to be absolutely sure that's what really happened she needed to ask.

"W-what happened?" Maps whispered coarsely and brokenly. Kyle lifted up his head and stared down at her, startled, he shared a look with his dad before sighing out loud.

"You tripped down a flight of stairs and had a pretty nasty head injury. We rushed you to the hospital but, you lost a lot of blood along the way." Kyle said pitifully but continued nonetheless. 

"You were in surgery for hours, after they were done operating on you they came back announcing that you were... dead." Kyle paused, frowning. When his dad placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"But then suddenly you started breathing again, out of nowhere." Maps saw tears run down her father's meek face as he picks up her hand, caressing it on his wet cheek.

"Thank goodness, we thought we lost you." He whispered exhaustingly. 

Maps were at a loss for words, so much was happening, she couldn't wrap her head around all of it. In her dream, she does remember vaguely dying... if she could even call that dying?

But you can't just come back from the dead, right? All she remembers was everything being very cold and dark, then she suddenly woke up. 

Well... there was something else there too but-

"Please step aside sir, let me see her." A tall old man dressed in a long white coat, with a name tag on his collar, swiftly walked in followed by her mom.

This must be the doctor that claimed she was dead? He gently placed his two fingers on her pauls and bore on a shocked but serious face.

"This can't be possible?" He checked her heart monitor to see stable vitals.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mizgouchi if you and your son would kindly exit the room, I'd like to run some tests on her."

The doctor reached to press the call button, "Nures Emily, please come help assist me in room 202." The doctor turned to the worried family ushering them out.

"Please this will only take a second." He said earnestly.

The family hesitantly walked through the doors but not without Maps declaring, "Don't worry I'll be fine." Maps smiled reassuring them, shutting the door behind him, the doctor stayed true to his word as the check-up was rather short.

Since there was nothing wrong with her. Although, the likelihood of her leaving anytime soon wasn't.

Maps didn't want to go into detail on the process of her discharge and what happened with her so-called "death", but in short, they let her go home seeing as there was nothing wrong with her, finding it a miracle that she was even alive.

No one knew exactly why or how this phenomenon transpired but everyone was just grateful that she was alive.

Once she was discharged, everything went back to... well she'd like to say normal. But that wasn't the case, a few weeks have passed and not only does she have this narely scar across her forehead.

Which in her opinion makes her look totally badass, but everything just seems so insignificant... like a part of her was missing, something super important.

Maps haven't noticed this before but... has the world always been this colorless? She honestly can't remember a time when there were colors, no it's just bland and empty.

And it's put her in such a dreary mode as of late, and everyone could tell. It's not like she was hiding it or anything, but she did try shaking off her irateness but found it futile in doing so.

Which lead her here, in Isla MacPherson's office sipping on hot tea, relaying her confusing existence.

"Oh dearie, it seems like you're in quite the pickle?" Isla said pouring Maps another cup of camomile tea, Maps slouched on the red leather couch cradling the tiny teacup, and sighed.   

"It just doesn't make any sense, when I think back to what happened that day all I remember are bits and pieces of it. I-I just can't seem to put the parts together to understand what happened.

Was it all just a dream? Was my life always this grey? Or was I saved by an angel?" Maps took a slow sip of her drink before setting it down on the coffee table in front of her.

"I was hoping to talk to someone about this, but no one has been helpful." Maps frowned, Isla hummed into consideration, placing her finger on her chin.

"You know, I think I've read something like this before in a story my father used to read to me." Isla stood up and walked towards her towering bookshelf, scanning a few books before her index finger landed on a thin red cover.

She pulled it out heading back to her seat, she opened the book with care not to tear the pages.

"I remember a line somewhere that sounds similar to how you described that angel of yours." Isla flipped a few pages until she landed on one, she scanned it for a quick second and then smiled.

"There it is, a being pure of light that only appears in your dreams also known as a Dream Lover." Isla passed the book to Maps for her to look over.

"I think what you experienced wasn't an angel, but your soulmate." Maps looked up at her teacher with confusion.

"What's a soulmate?" Maps asked curiously. Isla chuckled at her curiosity, "Well, a soulmate is... well someone who you carry with you forever. A person who's flaws and imperfections are visible to you and you alone. And no matter what happens you'll always love and cherish them, nothing could ever change that." Isla pointed towards the little book in Maps' hand and smiled.

"I'm sure you'll find what you need to know in that book. You can keep it if you want, I have an extra spare of my own." Isla winked at Maps before giving her a thumbs up.

Maps smiled and thanked her teacher for the gift, she quickly ran to her dorm flopping down on her bed kicking her feet in the air before opening the book to its first page. 

A Soulmate, the thing about a soul mate meeting, is that the cosmos has to bring it. And the universe must achieve many good things from the receivers, in doing so this action will bring good fortune all season long and will beat the dark forces.

"Dark forces?" Maps asked out loud, did it mean that dark void she felt trapped in?

And so, when you see your mate, you are as the greatest of lovers and the greatest of champions, for you must vow to fight for love for the rest of your days or until love has won. Your mate will love you, live and even die for you, their death will be yours too... for once the bond is made, it is eternal... and that is the greatest prize, the most this universe will ever offer... time with someone who loves you is either a paradise to live in or one where the right to fight for it is one's own choice. 

"Whoa! cool." Maps exclaimed, "So we're like partners in crime?" She asked excitedly, flipping to the next page.

Atlas this connection will only happen within one's dream through wishful thinking. Dream Lovers are a body-soul-brain connection, it is all three at once in quantities that overwhelm in the most beautiful of ways... thusly only a pure connection will be made... as sort of a test... for that is the only way the universe will deem you worthy of its gift.

Maps sat up from her bed and frowned. "What? That doesn't make any sense." 

To tell if one or the other has passed the test, they will be rewarded with identification of their one and only... the selfhood will bring light, love, and color as bright as the star. 

Maps quickly flipped the page to find it blank, she flipped it back and forth repeatedly hoping the information would appear like magic, but sadly found none. She reread that last sentence again and hummed.

"Does this mean I'll meet him soon if I passed my test? But what test?" Maps groaned and tossed the book to the side throwing her hands up in frustration, flopping back onto her bed sighing out her annoyance.  

"This is way too complicated to understand, but the only way I'll know if it's him or not is through a bond of love, light, and color? Will I feel it or-"

A knock echoed through her empty room stopping her mid-sentence, she sat up and walked towards the door begrudgingly and opened it. 

"Hey Maps," There stood her best friend Olive. Maps beamed as she leaned in to give her companion a hug pulling her through her door.

"Hey Olive, didn't you have a study date with Kyle or something?" Maps asked as Olive walked in closing the door behind her. 

Olive nodded, "Yeah but tennis practice is running long again so I decided to wait here until he's done." Olive hopped onto Maps bed lightly bouncing and smiled up at her best friend.

"What were you doing here by yourself?" Olive asked.

Maps picked up the little red book handing it to Olive, "Some light reading." Olive started reading the little book for the next three minutes then frowned. 

"You really believe in this crap?" Olive asked waving the book around, Maps snatched the book from her setting it down back on her nightstand.

"Of course I do, if you experienced what I did you'd believe it too." Maps huffed folding her arms across her chest.

Olive chuckled holding her hands up in surrender, "Sorry, to each their own. Well seeing as we both have nothing better to do why don't we go to the assembly then." Olive suggested getting up from the bed dusting her skirt down.

Maps tilted her head in puzzlement, "Assembly?" 

Olive scoffed and rolled her eyes playfully, "Of course you wouldn't know, they were announcing a new addition to our school today." She paused then shrugged her shoulders.

"Everyone says he's pretty important, so they're holding a gathering in his family's honor or something. He's probably just going to give us some boring speech on how proud he is to be apart of the school and random bullshit." Olive rolled her eyes, Maps giggled.

"Then why go at all if you think it's going to be boring?" Maps said as she began putting on her shoes. Olive shrugged her shoulders already walking out the door with Maps hopping on her trail.

"Beats just standing around," Olive stated walking rigorously down the empty hall.

The two girls chatted among themselves till they eventually made it to the gym, the second-largest building to the cafeteria of course, on campus.

They haven't even entered the building yet and Maps could already tell that the whole school was presumably stacked high in there. There was no chance of them getting a good seat or even one at all.

"By any chance did you get the name of the guy? He must be pretty popular to get the attention of the whole school." Maps said pushing through the twin doors to a roar of people. 

Olive pushed past a few people who were trying to get a peek at the new guy. "No, but this is ridiculous no one person can be this ah- popular."

Olive turned around shoving back a guy who grabbed her by her butt and glared daggers at him, he quickly backed off and scurried away out of sight.

Olive huffed and turned to find that her best friend had disappeared into the sea of adolescents.

"Just great," Olive said in dismay.

Maps she was currently finding it more difficult to maneuver her way past everyone by the second; getting shoved left and right by people.

"O-olive where did you go," Maps yelled in the sea of bodies getting no reply back, more shoving ensued finally shoving her down on her butt.

She whined rubbing her sore bottom, she looked around to find that nobody had even noticed her, how rude.

Maps stood up shoving her way further into the gymnasium ultimately stopping at the front of the stage, how'd she end up here?

"Ladies and gentlemen, we present you, Damian Wayne." The crowd roared with cheers and whistles as everyone attempted to get a closer look at the boy named Damian Wayne.

Pushing Maps further into the stage, practically climbing over her, she noticed to her right a few security guards but seemed unfazed by all of this.

Any more pushing and she'll end up face first on the platform. This Damian Wayne guy wasn't worth the discomfort, she needed to find a way to get out of here and quick before even more pushing occurs.  

"Hello, it is... so nice to be here today." Maps heard a clear small bell ringed inside her head, stilling her for a moment.

She unknowingly held her breath as her heart began beating uncontrollably quickly, filling her with delight and gleam? She clutched at her chest trying to calm her rapidly beating heart down, her body suddenly felt light as a feather. 

"I am here today to announce my late arrival to..." He uncaringly looked down at his note-cards, he wasn't even trying to hide them and took a deep sigh saying. "this prestigious school." Despite his monotone voice echoing throughout the gym, it sounded like the most exquisite music she's ever heard.

Maps eyes glossed over with white light staring up at the man before her, stars shined brilliantly through her eyes, feeling her body float. She wanted to get closer, she wanted to touch him, feel his skin against hers, feel his lips against her own.

She craved it so deeply it ached in her very bones... this was so surreal, she didn't even realize she had climbed up onto the stage.

"And I'd like to-" Damian stopped mid-speech to stare at the awe-struck girl that was walking slowly towards him.

He rolled his eyes raising his hand to wave over the pathetic excuse for security to escort the fangirl, but before he could call for security he felt a wave of... fullness? 

Damian slowly lowered his hand equally staring at the woman before him, it grew intensely silent.

The two walked closer towards each other standing only a few inches from one another, they stared at each other for a minute or two maybe three, they weren't sure.

Damian slowly, shakily, reached down for Maps hand intertwining it with his bringing it towards his lips, pressing a feather-like kiss on her digits.

His eyes never losing contact with hers, Maps breath hitched as her heart soared to new levels, his lips felt chapped but his breath was hot as the sun.

And just like magic, their whole world was painted in vibrant colors, bursting everywhere like a tide. 

Maps gasped eyes widen, possibly even wider now as she's now getting a first-hand look at her soulmate now standing before her just as awestruck as she is.

They both new they had finally found one another.

He leaned close tenderly pecking her lips, then her cheek, then her ear, and whispered. "I have never lived a moment of my life, before meeting you. My beloved; My everything." Maps suddenly felt the tears befalling and couldn't stop them, she's finally found him her soulmate.

Overjoyed, Maps jumped straight into his arms laughing merrily, he tightly wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled into her neck.

Maps slinked back gazing into his stunning emerald eyes bearing his soul for her and her alone, showing her that she had the key to his heart, not able to hold back anymore.

Maps excitedly jumped into him once more and kissed him. It was a full-on, open-mouthed, essentially passionate kiss.

It was sloppy but meant the world to her, Damian reproach picking her up by her hips, swinging her around placing his hand and behind her head deepening their kiss.

The crowd that was mostly silent through the whole interaction grew loud once again.

Most with cries of despair and others cheering them on. Maps honestly didn't care, she just couldn't get enough of him.

During their little make-out session, one of the security guards looked up from his phone to scan the crowd than to his employer and started coughing at the scene playing out in front of him, shocked at the public display.

He quickly shoved his phone into his pocket and marched towards the two, Damian and Maps separated to catch their breaths, smiling lovingly at each other. 

Only for Maps to be yanked brutally out of Damian's arms by her collar, she yelped as she was being dragged away from her other half.

"You're not supposed to be up here young lady, I'm going to have to write you up-" But before the guy could finish his threat he shortly discovered his face was planted hard on the ground.

He groaned, rubbing his head he looked up and to his horror lay his eyes upon an angry child displaying his teeth like an animal baring its fangs, a look of pure ferocity in his eyes.

He grabbed Maps by her waist crushing her into his side, Damian glared down at the wretched human below him and snarled. 

"Touch my woman again peasant, I will amputate your arms and legs." Damian spit at him in a low threatening growl, the security guard had got the message and scrambled to his feet laughing nervously and meekly apologized before returning back to his post.

Damian huffed in annoyance, plotting the man's execution; maybe he should be merciful and have merely a simple hanging, yes that will suffice. 

Maps giggled and poked Damian in the cheek, he turned his head and looked down at his mate and smiled. "Are you alright Habibi?" Maps nodded fixing her collar, then she whistled.

"Habibi? It means my love or beloved." He replied.

"What did you just call me?" Maps asked as Damian took her hand once more, and taking his other gingerly wrapping it around her neck, rubbing small circles on her delicate skin. 

"Ooh I like that, say it again." Maps swooned.

Damian chuckled and leaned in real close whispering, "Habibi," Maps blushed and smiled feeling her heart was literally beat a mile a minute.

She gazed up at him adoringly, he looked like the sun itself standing there... warm and real.

She had no doubt in her heart that this was her one true love, her best friend, her partner, her everything, her soulmate.

"My Dream Lover."

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening"

Devotions for November 6

MORNING

"The wrath to come." - Matthew 3:7

It is pleasant to pass over a country after a storm has spent itself; to smell the freshness of the herbs after the rain has passed away, and to note the drops while they glisten like purest diamonds in the sunlight. That is the position of a Christian. He is going through a land where the storm has spent itself upon his Saviour's head, and if there be a few drops of sorrow falling, they distil from clouds of mercy, and Jesus cheers him by the assurance that they are not for his destruction. But how terrible is it to witness the approach of a tempest: to note the forewarnings of the storm; to mark the birds of heaven as they droop their wings; to see the cattle as they lay their heads low in terror; to discern the face of the sky as it groweth black, and look to the sun which shineth not, and the heavens which are angry and frowning! How terrible to await the dread advance of a hurricane-such as occurs, sometimes, in the tropics-to wait in terrible apprehension till the wind shall rush forth in fury, tearing up trees from their roots, forcing rocks from their pedestals, and hurling down all the dwelling-places of man! And yet, sinner, this is your present position. No hot drops have as yet fallen, but a shower of fire is coming. No terrible winds howl around you, but God's tempest is gathering its dread artillery. As yet the water-floods are dammed up by mercy, but the flood-gates shall soon be opened: the thunderbolts of God are yet in his storehouse, but lo! the tempest hastens, and how awful shall that moment be when God, robed in vengeance, shall march forth in fury! Where, where, where, O sinner, wilt thou hide thy head, or whither wilt thou flee? O that the hand of mercy may now lead you to Christ! He is freely set before you in the gospel: his riven side is the rock of shelter. Thou knowest thy need of him; believe in him, cast thyself upon him, and then the fury shall be overpast for ever.

EVENING

"But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa." - Jonah 1:3

Instead of going to Nineveh to preach the Word, as God bade him, Jonah disliked the work, and went down to Joppa to escape from it. There are occasions when God's servants shrink from duty. But what is the consequence? What did Jonah lose by his conduct? He lost the presence and comfortable enjoyment of God's love. When we serve our Lord Jesus as believers should do, our God is with us; and though we have the whole world against us, if we have God with us, what does it matter? But the moment we start back, and seek our own inventions, we are at sea without a pilot. Then may we bitterly lament and groan out, "O my God, where hast thou gone? How could I have been so foolish as to shun thy service, and in this way to lose all the bright shinings of thy face? This is a price too high. Let me return to my allegiance, that I may rejoice in thy presence." In the next place, Jonah lost all peace of mind. Sin soon destroys a believer's comfort. It is the poisonous upas tree, from whose leaves distil deadly drops which destroy the life of joy and peace. Jonah lost everything upon which he might have drawn for comfort in any other case. He could not plead the promise of divine protection, for he was not in God's ways; he could not say, "Lord, I meet with these difficulties in the discharge of my duty, therefore help me through them." He was reaping his own deeds; he was filled with his own ways. Christian, do not play the Jonah, unless you wish to have all the waves and the billows rolling over your head. You will find in the long run that it is far harder to shun the work and will of God than to at once yield yourself to it. Jonah lost his time, for he had to go to Nineveh after all. It is hard to contend with God; let us yield ourselves at once.

[shadedrose01]

Only Us

Ship: Parksborn (Peter Parker/Harry Osborn)

Authors Note: A fluffy drabble I wrote quickly for fun. Based off the Spider-Man 2017 cartoon, not edited. Hope you guys enjoy! ❤💞❤

Edit: I'm stupid and forgot to add a spoiler warning. Spoilers for season 1 of the cartoon!!

--

It'll be us, it'll be us

And only us

And what came before, wont count anymore

Or matter. Can we try that?

"Cya!!"

"Get home safe, you two!"

"We will, bye!" Harry calls over his shoulder, to their three friends sitting on the steps Horizon High, Gwen and Anya in their fancy blue and red gowns, respectively, and Miles slicked back in his full black tux.

Peter echoes his words as he matches their steps, trying not to stumble as his attention shifts into the same thing it has been all damn night, Harry fricken Osborn himself and his goddamn suit. Because, while the rest of their friend group had dressed up nicely, him included in his burgundy hand me down vest and pants from his Uncle Ben and nice white dress shirt, Harry had outbeaten them all. To Peter, anyways.

The taller boy was wearing a dark navy blue velvet tux, with a bright white shirt tucked into his pants and a matching tie to bring it all together, and man is it doing things to Peter he'd rather not admit. It fits him in all of the right places, most likely tailored to him (unlike Peter's too big around the shoulders coat and rolled up pants), and the darker color brings out the lightness of his eyes, almost a cool gray in the light of the moon and yellow from the street lamps, while simultaneously meshing with his jet black hair, mostly slicked back except for the front, which had puffed back up in the hours of stuffy heat and the jumping that he had called dancing, combed back into a quiff only by his hands, messy and unmade but still so unbelievably perfect to Peter. It makes him forget how to breath, the ethereal beauty that is Harry Osborn, the perfection of the diamond that had escaped from the heat and pressure of Norman Osborn's clutches, and he barely notices that he's walking right towards a light post until he's right in front of it, and jerks out of the way at the last second.

Harry snorts of a laugh, and places a hand onto his arm to help steady him and help him keep up with the steady trot they've started. "You alright, Pete? You didn't sneak in some alcohol behind my back and didn't tell me, did ya?"

Peter turns to retort, to give back some snarky response as he always does, but then he's staring at harry again, into his bright, shining orbs and wide grin and raised eyebrow and his words dissolve on his tongue, his breath mysterious gone again. "Uhm, n-no?"

"You sure about that?" The taller boy starts at him quizzitively, but there's a hint of something else, of concern in his gaze. "You've been acting kinda weird tonight."

Peter feels his stomach twist with a guilt he hasn't felt around Harry in a while, since he had told Harry about Spider-Man honestly. After his biggest secret (or, what had been his biggest secret) had come to light, and the inevitable fight that came after was over, the two friends had been closer than ever, thicker than thieves, and they had promised to tell each other everything. No more secrets, no more lies. And Peter had broken that.

At least, for the past few months. He didn't mean to! Not really. He hadn't even noticed that he was gaining feelings, and feeling more for his childhood best friend until Anya and Gwen had cornered him in the lab and asked how long they'd been together, why they hadn't told them. After they talked, and he figured out he liked- no loved, its love at this point (oh god)- Harry, he didn't know what to do. How was he supposed to tell him that? When there was no sign that Harry felt the same (no matter how many times the girls, and then Miles too once he caught onto it, told him otherwise), when it could ruin everything between them. He didn't want to lose his best friend. Not again.

But that was the thing, wasn't it? The last time Peter had kept a secret this big away from Harry, it had almost ended in them severing, in the loss of their friendship, and Peter couldn't handle that. He couldn't lose him, not completely.

So, he had gathered up his courage, as much of it as he could muster being Peter Parker and not Spider-Man, and told himself and his friends that he was gonna do it tonight. He had planned to do it before the party, and then at the party, and then during the dance, and had proceeded to chicken out each and every time. But he knew he had to do it. He had to. And it had to be tonight.

"Yeah, yeah I'm sure." He breathes out, glancing anywhere but at the boy beside him, matching him step for step, inhale and exhale, heart beating at almost the same time, Peter's only slightly quicker in his nerves. "I'm okay, Harry, I promise."

"Okay, if you're sure." Harry shrugs it off, as he always does, something he truly, utterly loves about the boy. He knows when to back down, and trusts that Peter will tell him whatever he needs to know. Its the simple, whole hearted faith in him that makes Peter's heart swell, and his face warm, even in the slight chill of the early summer night. They take a few more steps, their feet crunching in the light frost coating the pavement sidewalks beneath their feet until he speaks up again, his voice light, barely a sigh, almost a whisper, a shy truth. "Today was amazing. I almost don't want it to end."

"Me neither," Peter murmurs honestly, his heart stuttering as he realizes his time for telling the truth is running out. He spots the shadow of a jungle jim in the distance, the shine of the street lights reflecting off of the metal slide, dented and scratched up with use, and stops. "Maybe it doesn’t have to, yet."

Harry stops beside him, basically as soon as he does, so in tune with Peters sudden antics that it happens almost subconsciously, leaning on his right side as his eyebrows furrow. "But we already texted Aunt May, she's probably waiting on you to come home-"

"She can wait, she'll understand." He rushes forward, then, glances quickly both ways before running across the street and towards the playground, hearing Harry bark out a laugh and a "Peter!" before his lighter footsteps trail behind him. Peter just chuckles with a grin, flipping around to stare at his best friend and ignoring the stutter in his heart. "Don't you remember this place? We used to play here all the time!"

"Oh I remember," Harry grins as he catches up to him, "You used to push me off the slide all the time."

Peter scoffs playfully, and shoves him roughly with his shoulder. "Yeah, but only because you would do it first."

"Not true!"

"Absolutely true, and you know it!" He sticks out his tongue just as the reach the swings, the bright red paint of the seats almost a pink now due to sun exposure, and peeling, the metal chains holding them up rusty and old. "And these babies!" He exclaims, practically jumping onto the seat and hearing it creek dangerously under his weight, and holding his breath, releasing it only when the swing holds. "We used to play on these all the time."

"See who could go the highest." Harry agrees, sitting on the one beside him with much more ease and caution than Peter had. "Who could go the furthest when they jumped off." There's a hint of sadness, of melancholy in his voice now that Peter hates, hates so so much that he has to turn and face him, to see what was wrong, to see if he could make it better.

But Harry wasn't looking at him. Instead, he was staring up at the sky, at the galaxies and stars barely noticeable throughout the clouds of smoke and smog of the New York City skies, with a hint of a frown tilting his lips, and the multitude of worlds shimmering in his eyes. He's still beautiful, stunning even with the etch of sorrow and nostalgia on his features, his hair swaying slightly in the faint breeze. "It was so easy, back then." His voice is soft, again, barely audible to normal ears but crystal clear to Peter's inhanced ones. He thinks he would've heard him either way, as all of his focus is now captured, captivated by the boy. "We didn't have a care in the world. No stress of saving New York, no fears of- of dying, no pressures of taking over the Osborn Mantel. Just-" He pauses, taking a shuttering breath. "Just innocence. Naivety. Just... us."

"At least that hasn't changed, hey?" Peter murmurs, trying to lighten the mood, and beams when he hears Harry laugh. A faint chuckle, but its a start either way.

"Yeah, yeah." The light smile fades just as fast as it came, the light twinkle disappearing from his eye. "I hope it never does."

"It won't." Peter states, sitting up abruptly, his heart and mind racing as Harry gaze drops from the sky and looks over to him, swirling with so much pain, grief, loss, fear that it makes Peter ache, and he knows what he has to do, knows what he can do to hopefully wipe all those fears away. He just hopes his friends are right, and that it doesn't make everything so much worse.

The smaller boy leans forward, giving plenty of time for the taller to lean back, or move away, giving him plenty of chance to escape this situation if this isn't what he truly wants. But... Harry stays. He stays put, watching intensely as Peter moves closer and closer, his pupils growing as their shaking breath starts to mix, as their noses brush and eyelashes flutter shut, as their lips gently press together with ease, fitting together perfectly almost like two pieces of the same puzzle, almost as if they were made for each other. And then, he's leaning forward too, grasping at the collar of Peter's blazer and pulling him closer, tilting his head to deepen the kiss as Peter grabs at his arms and holds him there, hoping, longing to stay here, in this moment for as long as they possibly can, all of the worries for the future and sorrows of the past disappear in the heat and warmth of the now.

But all too soon, Peter's lungs start to ache, so he eases back just as Harry does, still so in sync even at a moment like this, resting their foreheads against one another as they breathe the same air, Peter's eyes fluttering open to see Harry already staring back, the storm grays turning into bright summer skies, so full of light and warmth and excitement, so full of hope that it makes Peter's heart sing and his chest warm, making a wide smile break onto his face. "It won't." Peter reiterates now, bumping his nose with Harry's just to hear him giggle, light and breathy.

"It better not." Harry warns, his nose scrunching playfully, gaze teasing. "You better not be the type to kiss and leave, Parker."

Peter bursts out laughing, leaning back heavily and causing him to swing slightly as Harry follows suit, chuckling beside him. Once settled down a bit, he glances over with a warm, bashful look. "I wouldn't even dream of it. Not for the world." Harry's face flushes at that, and he glances away shyly, a wide smile on his face.

They don't discuss titles, or what they are, really. But they don't have to. Both of them know, now, that no matter what comes their way, no matter what life throws at them, they'll get through it, together. And thats all that matters.

The world falls away...

The world falls away...

And its only us

[be-ready-when-i-say-go]

A Family of Five- Part 4: Games and Surprises

Calum and Harlowe’s marriage hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been filled with love. This is a collaborative experience with In Sorrow and In Joy. Dad!Calum. Black OC.

CW: Over the course of this series, there are mentions of pregnancy, therapy, and postpartum depression. There is also 18+ Content (Smut). 

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No one has my permission to repost my work of fiction. This includes translations as well

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Calum shouldn’t be this mesmerized by the way her skin looks. But he swears she used some kind of sparkly body oil. The glitter sparkles in the sun, her skin looks heavenly. Much more than it normally does. Brown glistening with gold flecks. He wants it coating his tongue. He shifts a little in his seat; he can already feel the strain in his pants. Calum should be concentrating on the menu in front of him. They already spent all morning in bed. She got in late last night from her reading, due to a delay. By the time she home, the last thing she wanted to do was fool around. Calum understood. Harlowe and he snuggled up in bed and she passed out pretty soon after curling into his chest. 

However, the moment she woke up, Calum couldn’t keep his hands off her. She didn’t seem to mind either. It was slow, soft, lazy sex. Calum buried his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling the faint sweet smell of her products, a mixture of something floral and coconut. He loved it. He wants to smell it again. He wants to be gentle in the beginning this time. Her moans are so sweet against his ears, but he also wants more. He wants to hear the pleasure ripping over her throat, he wants to see her eyes roll back into her head. Her wants to see her let go. Calum should’ve offered to cook. But Harlowe wanted to try this little brunch spot that just opened and he couldn’t say no to her pout. 

She’ll only be free for a couple more days. Then it’ll be back to school for her, the end of her spring break. With the release of her new book of poetry, she got invited to a book fest. So they didn’t get to spend nearly as much time together as they both anticipated. The kids are with his parents. Moving back to Australia had its perks for sure. Though, Ashton took them for part of a day. Calum received a video of Esha and Ashton competing in DDR. Ashton’s message attached to the video was I got my ass beat by a nine year old. 

Should the entire two days they have together be spent solely in the bedroom, or whatever part of the house they happen to be in? No, Calum knows that. So he shifts again and pulls his gaze to the orange menu in front of him. It’s enough contrast to the blue shirt of his she’s wearing. She stole the royal blue button up form his side of the closet and he can’t say anything. Especially not with the way she’s left a couple top buttons undone and tied it up at the bottom. Slivers of her chest and stomach poke out. He desperately wants to run his fingers over the stretch marks he knows so well already. She looks like a fucking goddess in front of him. Going on a decade of marriage should make things stale. But things have started to heat up for them. She’s off the meds with a doctor’s approval and Calum’s enjoying the way her new energy. 

Calum glances up at her once again. She’s resting her head on the flat of her knuckles, squishing the fat of her left cheek, gaze zeroed on the menu. “You’re thinking about something,” Harlowe grins before lifting her eyes. 

The moment feels like slow motion for Calum. He can see every lash as her lids lift, her dark brown eyes landing on his. “You,” he says softly, “I’m thinking about you.”

“Well I suggest you start thinking about what you want to order. Because you got three seconds before our server comes up.”

Calum’s fucked. He has no clue what’s on this fucking menu. He doesn’t care. When the server shows up, he lets her order first and then takes the same thing. “If I told them to bring me toast and one lemon, you would be so fucked.”

He exhales a laugh. “No, I wouldn’t be. You would be though.”

“I blame the fact that I had two kids. I can eat a house and home.”

“You talk about Te Koha’s appetite, but you’re the real culprit,” he grins.

She levels a finger at him. “You shush!”

“Make me,” he laughs. Harlowe doesn’t miss the teasing lilt to his voice, the small smirk that lifts half of his lips. She’s noticed him shift in his seat several times while she was debating what to order. She knows what he wants. She will not give in that easy. He’ll have to work for it. 

“What are we? 23 again?”

The smile falls again, he exhales a chuckle. He doesn’t like being reminded of that age, much. It’s nothing against her. It’s everything against him. It was him that tried to end what they had. She had just moved to California for her master’s in poetry. They had been something a step above friends with benefits and a step below a real relationship. It didn’t seem to matter much what the label was, but Calum felt himself, dying to call her about every little thing. She was the first person he wanted to talk to in the morning and the last one he wanted to hear at night. He nearly ruined all that too. Over text message. Stupid fucking text message. 

“Hey,” Harlowe says softly, reaching for his hand. 

Calum shakes his head, sniffling. He doesn’t want to talk about it. He doesn’t want to mention how stupid he was in that moment, how terrified he was of fucking it up with the best damn person for him that he did nearly fuck it up. “It’s nothing,” he whispers.

“Nothing my black ass,” she counters, tightly holding onto his fingers. “What’s up, baby?”

He’s doing it again. The same behavior that nearly lost her sixteen years ago. “I love you,” he exhales. “A whole fucking lot. Sometimes I guess it scares me what I nearly did; I’m still so sorry about that. I know I was young, and scared, and a whole bunch of other adjectives, but I was so utterly in love with you, I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t want to fuck it up. I still don’t want to fuck this up. I’m scared I will.”

Harlowe fights to keep the sigh from escaping her. She’s forgiven him. She knows getting Calum to open up requires more patience than she sometimes has. But God, does she wish he’d stop beating himself up over it. What words are left for her to say? “I’ve forgiven you, Calum. It’s time you forgive yourself. You’re human. You’re going to fuck up. I don’t think less of you.”

He nods. She’s right. He really ought to forgive himself. But the words to that message are burned into his retinas some nights and days. We shouldn’t do this; I shouldn’t do this. I can’t do this. You’re too good for me and I’m no good for you. I’ll ruin you. “But how? How do I forgive myself for something like that?”

“You admit it was a mistake. One mistake, amongst a lifetime of them. One you learned from. Clearly. Because we did it. We’re doing it. We’re literally married.”

Her inflection, her laugh, makes him crack a shaky smile. He looks down to the diamond ring. They made it, they are making it each and every day together. “Sorry for bringing it up. I just...sometimes I really get hit with how much of an idiot younger me was.”

“You live; you learn. Younger me was an idiot too. The girl I told off on twitter--yeah, not my most shining moment.”

Calum chuckles, head dropping a little remembering the rant she went on. “You didn’t exactly paint a pretty picture about me either.”

“Look, I was literally months pregnant with Koha and exhausted. The last thing I wanted to do was sit back and have thousands of people judging me-us- for not marrying sooner.”

“Valid. But you didn’t have to mention the one night I partied too hard and got sick, now did you?”

“Okay, but who cleaned up your vomit that night too? Off your own fucking floor? Me. Who took Duke to the vet the next day because you literally were lying under your sheets in the dark? Me.”

Calum groans. It wasn’t a shining moment for anyone. He was only going out for a few hours. He hadn’t had a drink in a while, keeping it out of the house while Harlowe was pregnant. It was a guy’s night tradition and Harlowe told him he should go out for just a little fun. So he did. He promised to have his phone on him, volume at it’s max and on vibrate incase she needed him. She was about six months pregnant, so it she wasn’t terribly far along. Just one night out with one beer, turned in a quick too many shots in succession, a woozy Uber back home and Calum promptly vomiting on the kitchen floor trying to get some water in his system. 

Harlowe heard him from the bedroom, pushed herself out of bed and wordlessly cleaned it up. Calum can’t remember much after that but as Harlowe recounts, he almost cried because she was pregnant and he was the one acting like a child. Every other word out of his mouth was sorry because he hadn’t intended for it to get like this. Harlowe couldn’t carry him like before to the bedroom, so she shushed him and got him on the sofa. He made it only to the bed later, after waking with a killer headache. 

The server returns with their food before he can defend himself. As Calum dunks a piece of french toast into the syrup, he speaks, “Still, it didn’t need to be put on social media.”

“Well, what do you want me to do, go back in time? That science hasn’t exactly been perfected yet,” she huffs. “Besides, we didn’t have to be married at that particular moment either. All the shit we had been through, we were living at our own pace. It still makes me mad to think that some people thought you had even proposed because you felt obligated to.”

 Calum takes a strawberry off his plate and holds it out to her. “Eat this. Clearly I didn’t marry you out of obligation.”

“Strawberries aren’t going to make me calmer,” Harlowe retorts. 

Pulling up from his chair, Calum stretches across the table and drops the berry into her mouth. “Just shut up and eat. Food will make you calmer, second only to my cock,” he adds the second sentence in a whisper. Just loud enough for her to here. 

It doesn’t even shock her. Instead she smiles around her chewing. “So that’s how it is?”

Calum raises an eyebrow. “That’s how it is.”

Harlowe nods. She won’t let this go. She was going to go grocery shopping tomorrow. But now, she’s going to make him suffer a trip. Two can play this game. She plays just a little bit better too. 

Brunch finished, and bill paid, Harlowe taps her fingers on the table. “We should probably get some groceries.”

“You mean tomorrow?” He trails his fingers up the skin of her forearm. He’s waiting to see that shake of her spine, hear the chatter of her teeth. 

“I mean we’re already out now.”

Calum doesn’t let up, dragging his nails over the skin of her elbow joint. He watches her carefully, but he gets nothing. Though he can see a rigid line across her shoulders. She’s tensing, so she won’t give him a reaction. “You’re playing dirty,” he spits. It’s some pretend offense, but some of it is real. How dare she?

“Let’s go while we’re out, yeah?”

He nods. “Yeah, let’s go while we’re out.”

The actual grocery shopping goes by smoothly. Calum stirs the basket while Harlowe takes charge. It’s routine, especially if they bring the kids. Both of them like to bounce around and ask about items not on the grocery list. Sometimes they cave on the small things, but it works much faster when one of the takes lead over the trip. It’s as Harlowe browses through the choices of rice that Calum seizes his opportunity. He slips a hand into the back pocket of her jeans, resting his chin on her shoulder. 

“Can I help you sir?” Harlowe grins. Calum doesn’t miss her sharp inhale before speaking. She keeps a good game face, but he knows her buttons. 

“Just enjoying the view,” he mutters, kissing her cheek. 

A giggle escapes her before she shrugs out of the embrace. She tosses a box into the basket. Calum sighs and starts behind her again. He looks over the produce, onions and bell peppers before finding ones that satisfy him. While he ties off the bag, Harlowe walks up behind him, patting his butt and giving it a squeeze. Calum jolts before looking over his shoulder to the bright grin on her face. “You’re so proud of yourself, huh?” he asks as she scurries away. 

He catches her on the wine aisle. Initially he thought she might be down the candy aisle. But when faced with the severe lack of blue shirts and his beautifully brown wife down the aisle, he knows wine is the second place to check. She’s not drinking right now, but she still likes to keep a bottle in the house for guests. He finds her holding up two different bottles. “I can’t choose. Help, please,” she whines, a pout pulling down her pouty lips. 

“How long have you been holding those bottles?”

“For a while, waiting for you to find me.”

Calum’s laughter hits the empty air of the grocery store loudly. He inhales sharply before his laugh leaves him again. “Are you serious? Put both of them in the cart you fucking goof.”

She sets the bottles down, with a sigh. “Thanks. They were getting heavy.”

Walking around the cart, Calum holds his arms out. Only his wife, only Harlowe. They embrace and Calum still vibrates with his laughter. Before releasing the hug, Calum kisses her forehead, sliding his arms down her waist, resting on the curve to her ass. He lets his hands linger there, kneading softly, fingers playing at the loops of her jeans. 

She shoves his hips. “I’m not going to cave, not here,” Harlowe mutters. She sounds a little breathless and that’s all the reaction Calum needs. 

He grabs her chin gently, silver bracelet sliding down his slender wrist. “Oh yes, you will,” he commands. Harlowe bites down her lip, fighting her throat to keep the moan down. She can swallow it, keep it at bay. The grip tightens. He needs this. He needs her to cave, because God is he seconds from caving himself, seconds from falling to his knees in the middle of this fucking grocery store to beg for her, for her body, for her sighs, for her moans, for her hands on his skin. 

She wrestles her chin away, exhaling hard. Defying him isn’t going to end well for her. Normally defying means punishments. But he hasn’t dished out any of those in a long time. Harlowe’s toying to see if he will. Calum probably won’t. Not after her spiral from Esha, he’s been extremely gentle during sex. She’s been good too with it, except for now. Now she’s tired of it. She wants to let go finally. 

The walk to the check out is silent. As they load up all the bags into the trunk, it’s silent. It’s not until both doors are closed and seat belts are on does anyone speak. Calum starts the car, before turning to Harlowe. “What was that?”

“Disobedience,” she answers, staring straight ahead. “Which means punishment.”

Calum exhales hard. “Baby, are you sure? I don’t-I don’t want you to feel rushed into anything. I’m okay with taking things slow.”

“I’m tired of slow.”

“We can’t do some of the stuff we used to. I-I can’t just yet. I’m worried.”

“I understand. I’m not asking to dive in head first. I just am tired of slow.” Harlowe watches as Calum nods, but runs his hands through his hair. He looks too hesitant for comfort. He won’t do it, she figures. “Never mind, forget I mentioned it.”

“Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Calum lifts her chin. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to touch you or have sex with you. If you’re tired of slow, you’re tired of slow. You have every right to be.”

“But you said you were worried.”

“Worried, yes. Against, no. I’m cautious. It took almost a year to get back to where we are. I don’t want to push you too fast.” Undoing his seatbelt, Calum stretches over the middle console, brushing his nose over hers. “But you’re tired of slow. So we’ll ratched it up a notch.” He seals her mouth with his. She wastes no time, parting her lips for him. Harlowe is eager to gain more than just slow, and gentle. She wants something to set her skin on fire. 

Calum doesn’t slip his tongue into her mouth. Instead he pulls away. She whines, pushing forward even with the seatbelt pulling her back. He chuckles, patting her cheek. “This is what happens when you disobey.”

Even though a whine falls past her throat, Harlowe grins. This is it. This is the feeling she missed as her fingertips start to buzz. The drive home is silent between them, besides the low hum of the radio. Calum tries to keep his hands to himself, tries to punish her like she’s asking. He just can’t help himself anymore. “Unbutton your pants,” he orders at a red light. 

“What?”

“Unbutton your jeans and get them down as far as you can,” he states again before glancing over to her. 

Harlowe lifts her hips, slowly, popping the button her light denim jeans. She wiggles them down, suddenly very aware that a lot of people could be watching her in that moment. Her underwear selection for the day isn’t the most exciting, a simple pair of black cotton underwear with lace trimming. “What if people see?” she asks. 

“Then they shouldn’t be looking. No one is watching, though.” Calum looks over again. The denim is about half way down her thighs, though she’s struggling to get them down more. “That’s good. Now sit on your hands.”

“What are you doing?”

“Just do as I’m saying, baby.”

Harlowe pulls her hips again and settles down on her hands. The moment her hands are covered by her bottom, Calum slips hand over her thighs. There’s still some firmness to them, but two children have made her soft. The cellulite is harder to miss, but the ridges underneath Calum’s fingertips are enticing. He really wants to sink his teeth into her thighs. As the urge strengthens, he squeezes at her flesh. Not enough to cause pain, but hard enough to soothe the lust. She exhales next to him, shaky.

 “Scared?” Calum asks. 

“No, horny, turned on.”

Dragging his knuckles up her thigh, he brushes over her clothed sex. The thin material is soaked already. He hums at the feeling and pushes the cotton to the side. He can feel her dripping onto his hands. Calum presses the pad of his thumb to a clit. She jolts, a hiss falling from her lips. “Did I say you could move?” Calum asks. 

“Sorry,” she sighs. 

Calum removes his thumb, sliding two fingers into her. She clenches around him, but doesn’t move this time. “Good girl,” he praises, curling them up into her. Harlowe releases another shuddery breath. Calum works his fingers inside her slowly. They’re about two minutes form the house. But he’s going to milk this. Harlowe doesn’t move in her seat but her grip on the door is deadly.

All the color is starting to drain from her skin around her knuckles. She moans occasionally, but mostly tries to keep those sounds contained too. Calum turns into the driveway of the house, putting the car in park. He pulls his fingers out of her. Harlowe starts to whine, but before the sound can fully escape her, Calum’s unbuckled himself and leaning across the way. He kisses down her jaw, inserting his fingers again. 

Her breathe is ghosting over his cheek, and his exhales are blowing right over hers. “Cum for me.” Calum’s voice is strained, desperate. Almost pained, like he’s on the edge of breaking down too, watching Harlowe’s heaving increase. 

“Fuck, shit,” she cries. She’s getting there. Her pelvic muscles are tightening around him. Her hips are lifting, her curls are pressed so deep into the headrest, if she doesn’t leave an indent, he’ll be shocked. 

“You’re so close,” he coaxes, gently grazing his teeth over his skin. Right on the cusp of her orgasm, Calum considers pulling away, making her fall apart around nothing. He wants to ruin it. And that’s what he does, right on the edge of her cry, Calum pulls away from her completely. 

Harlowe swears, slamming her palms against the door handle. Her cry is mangled. When she opens her eyes, Calum can see tears on the falling down her cheeks. With his clean hand he wipes them away. “You motherfucker,” she heaves, turning into his touch. “I hate you, a tiny bit.”

“You okay?”

She laughs, “I mean on the one hand, that was on track to be the best orgasm of my life and on the other hand, you ruined it, so...you know I don’t know.”

Calum brings his coated finger to his mouth, sucking them clean. He pulls his digits from his mouth with a pop. “Clean yourself up. There’s still ice cream and sorbet to put up.” 

Due to two kids already, they keep the vehicles well stocked with tissues and wipes. Calum hands her the packet after taking one for himself. They’re baby wipes. Harlowe reaches behind Calum’s seat and unhooks the small plastic bag they leave in for trash. He is mindful to let her get her pants back up before opening his door. 

Calum grabs two bags from the trunk when Harlowe walks around and pushes on his shoulder. The smirk on his face let’s him know everything is good. “You asked for it,” Calum counters with a pause. “Don’t get mad at me, doll.”

Harlowe huffs next to him. Calum giggles, hurrying into the house with his bags. She hates that pet name. The first time he used it, she immediately ceased him from using it ever again. He only pulls it out in instances like this, just to annoy her, to rile her up. Harlowe storms after him, careful of the paper bags in her hands. “Calum Thomas Hood!” she bellows into the house. 

Pepper halts in her run to greet Harlowe. She knows that tone. “Pepper,” Harlowe coos. “I wasn’t talking to you angel. I’m sorry.” 

Harlowe drops her bags and holds out her hands. Pepper continues over, rubbing in close to Harlowe’s embrace. Sissy and Jack come trotting over too. She scratches at their heads too. Calum rounds the corner of the kitchen, prepared for her fierce gaze, but she’s too preoccupied by the dogs. He seizes this moment and brings in the last of the grocery before locking up the car and the house. 

“Don’t think I’m not still pissed about you calling me doll just because I’m playing with the dogs.”

“You know you love it,” he teases, his sing song cadence making Harlowe melt at the sound, but also grow a bit more frustrated. She hates the term, but somehow, it’s much less grating hearing it from his lips. It’s her more Southern upbringing. She is no one’s doll, no one’s play thing. She’s not plastic waiting to be structured. But for Calum she would be. For him, she would be a doll-the most perfect one too. 

“I love you babies. But Papa Bear will eat my sorbet if I don’t hide it,” Harlowe teases.

“I bought a separate pint for me, so you shush,” Calum shouts with a chuckle. 

Harlowe kisses the top of Jack’s head. “He’ll still eat some of mine.” She takes over putting away the last of the items, not even realizing Calum has disappeared until something cold touches her exposed stomach. She jumps into Calum’s chest, he snakes his arm even further around her waist. If he’s wearing rings, Harlowe swears she’s going to lose it. She glances down to see a bracelet. A new one in addition to the silver chain from earlier. Her gaze travels up from his wrist and sure enough his fingers adorn several of his favorite rings. His left hand slides up the back of her, the cold metal biting at her neck. 

“Fuck,” she whispers. The rest of her sentence dies on her lips as he brings his hand around to her throat. There’s no pressure, he’s just cupping the front of her neck, thumb ghosting over her skin. The paper towels fall from Harlowe’s slack grasp. 

“Pick those up, doll. Put them where they belong. I’m not doing anything.”

But he’s doing everything to make Harlowe turn into putty. She bends over, grabbing the  still wrapped paper towel roll from the floor, ass lined up with his crotch. Rolling up to stand, she pops onto her tiptoes to put the roll with the others on the shelf of the pantry. Her butt pops out as she leans forward, sliding it next to other waiting roll. The pantry door closes and before she can blink, Calum grabs her hips and spins her around. As he takes a step forward, she takes one back, pressing into the woodend door. 

His fingers trail across her stomach, pulling at the knot in his shirt. It falls open, her cropped camisole rests high on her waist. Calum presses his palm into her stomach, not too hard, but enough. She holds tightly to his wrist, tugging him even closer to her. “Tell me what you’re waiting on?” She asks, grabbing the back of his neck. Her lips ghost along his jaw, up to his ear. “You’re moving too slow.”

He doesn’t want to hurt her or scare her. Calum knows, however, he has to act fast. He pushes down the shirt from her shoulders, kissing across her shoulders. Once it falls into a heap at their feet, he pulls away, undoing his belt and pulling it from the loops. He pops the button on her jeans, pulling her back into him. “You won’t be saying that again,” he warns before turninf her back around. 

Harlowe braces against the pantry door. Calum unzips her jeans before pushing them down her hips. It’s not until he starts kissing the skin exposed as he undresses her that Harlowe suddenly finds her stomach filled with butterflies. Her body has changed so much since having kids. Nothing feels firm anymore to her. It scares her to think maybe she’s not as attractive as she used to be to him. 

Calum can sense something happening in her. He bites at her right cheek. “Stay with me, doll.”

“I’m jiggly though,” she sighs. Calum pushes up from his knees, standing at the back of her. His erection brushing against her. The sensation shocks her, her core clenches. Maybe she’s wrong. 

“You feel that?” he asks, pressing harder into her. 

“Yes,” she moans. He feels painfully hard against her. 

“Jiggly or not, you are my wife. You’ve blessed me with two children and three dogs. You are stunning and incredible. Besides,” he grins, running his hand over her ass. “I like the jiggle. A lot more for me to play with. But I can show you a lot better than I talk about how attracted I still am to you.”

Harlowe chuckles, turning her head to look at him. His pupils are blown, she can barely see the brown in his eyes. The beam to his grin makes ease some of her worries. “May I?” he questions, fingers trailing over the edges of her underwear. 

“Please,” she breathes. 

Calum sinks back to his knees, kissing over the back of her thighs, before pulling her completely of her jeans. Her panties are next to go before Calum settles between her legs. She pushes off the door some more. “Fuck,” he groans. “You’re so pretty, ya know? It’s a gorgeous sight you this wet for me.”

Harlowe can’t speak before his mouth is on her, sucking hard. “Ah, shit,” she shudders at the first contact, fist slamming into the pantry door. He hums at the curse. He grabs at her thighs to keep her stance wide enough for him. Her body quivers above him. Harlowe can barely get her breath. It’s taking all her core strength to stay upright as Calum laps at her. The sounds are lewd, the slurping, the swears, the moans. 

It’s a bad idea to take a hand off the wall, but Harlowe pushes up and looks down at Calum, his tongue swirling around her clit, flicking it. She grabs a fistful of his curls and tugs on them. He releases a moan, vibrating against her. Her stomach is on fire. “I-” she starts before her orgasm crashes over her. She groans, striking the door again with a closed fist. Finally, after what feels like forever, Harlowe exhales hard before gaining her breath. “Oh, fuck,” she heaves, resting her forehead into the door.

Calum teases her entrance with his fingers. Harlowe hisses above him. His palm is soft and warm against her thighs. “Shh, it’s okay,” one hand soothes her, the other still dancing around her opening. 

“I can’t. Please.”

“Okay,” he agrees pulling away from her. Sliding out from beneath her, Calum stands. Shedding his shirt and pants, he guides her upstairs. Harlowe watches the muscles of his back work beneath his smooth brown skin. Inside the bedroom before Calum and turn around, she drags her nails across his shoulders and down his back. Her lips leaves wet kisses over his skin. Calum shiver at the love bites she leaves. Snaking her arms around, she feels over his chest and stomach, fingers playing at the chains around his neck. 

“You’re moving too slow,” he teases. It’s mostly to prevent him from buckling right here. His knees are weak. With a laugh, she pushes him towards the bed. Calum climbs onto the mattress. As he settles and turns around, Harlowe’s already shed the camisole, arms now behind her back as she works to unhook the bra. “Should’ve let me do it,” he laughs, though it fades away as the cups fall away from her body. 

“Got anything else smart to say?” 

He shakes his head, watching her saunter to the edge of the bed. She crawls up his body, stopping occasionally to leave kisses on his thighs. He closes his has as his stomach tenses. Her lips and kisses are so soft, he swears he’s going to explode. His body feels like it’s buzzing. Her fingers curl into the band of his boxer briefs. He doesn’t refute the action, lifting his hips and letting her take them completely off him. 

She settles high on him, hovering right over her cock. Calum opens his eyes, watching the smirk on her face. The warmth and wetness slide right over him. “Shit,” he huffs, watching her slide up and down his length. “Don’t do this to me, doll. Please don’t.”

Harlowe stretches forward, gently taking the lobe of his ear between her teeth. “Call me doll one more time and see what happens.”

Calum runs his fingers up her back and sides. He’s silent, waiting for her to pull back in satisfaction. He knows she will if he remains quiet and then he can go in for the kill. Sure enough, she does, Harlowe tugs on his ear one last time before pulling away. That’s when he wraps his hand around her throat, squeezing. “What was that, doll?”

The hold isn’t too tight, but it stops Harlowe in her tracks. He was just going soft on her, just to give her some semblance of control to not freak her out. Calum watches her carefully, waiting for the gulp she usually does when she’s uncomfortable. But it never comes. She keeps her eyes trained on Calum. “Sorry,” she whispers. 

“Sorry what?”

“You might have to remind me. I forget.” The statement seems believable until she cracks a smile. That’s when Calum knows she’s acting out. He brings his second hand around her throat, and pulls her face down towards him. 

“I’ll remind you,” he growls. “You’re going to take my cock. Don’t breathe. Don’t think. Just bounce.”

Harlowe lifts up, lining him up to her entrance. For a brief second she considers maybe they should use a condom. Doctors have told her getting pregnant a third time isn’t impossible it’s just improbable. They’ve already agreed to try for a third child, even if the odds seem impossible. They go without condoms sometimes. It’s usually discussed beforehand. “Would you like me to put a condom on?” he asks, grip already loosening around her neck. 

Harlowe, with a rush of boldness, presses his hand back and slides down his length. “No,” she moans. “No, I don’t.”

Calum tightens the grip. “You’re still not addressing properly.”

Harlowe pulls herself up before taking him back in. She gives no verbal response, focused slowly on the bubble of heat starting. Calum watches her bouncing on his cock. It’s a sight to behold, the curls that shake with her moment, the way her breast bounce with her effort too. A moan slips over her lips, it’s tight and quiet from the pressure around her throat. Calum takes one hand away from her throat, wrapping it around her waist. He pulls her up and close to his chest, before driving his hips up into her. Harlowe braces herself above his hand, “Shit. God, don’t stop.”

“You will address me correctly, doll.” He gives a purposefully hard thrust, before slowly sliding out. 

Harlowe whines at the lost of her orgasm. “No, please, I’m sorry.”

“Then address me properly. Sorry, what?”

“I’m sorry sir,” she cries, eyes begging him. “Please don’t stop, Sir.”

“That’s more like it,” he smiles, thrusting back into her. The sound of relief that leaves her makes Calum almost cum. Harlowe sighs above him, the sound a little high in pitch. Calum removes his hand from her throat, slowing. Harlowe takes over, sliding up and down his length. With a nipple in his mouth, Calum moans. He’s missed this. He’s craved seeing her like this. A thin sheet of sweat covers her forehead, her knees pop just a little. But it doesn’t stop her, she chases down her orgasm. 

“Shit,” she groans, clenching around him. 

Calum runs his fingers over the side of her face, moans falling from her lips before he can catch them. “That’s right, just take all of it. Just bounce, baby.”

“I’m close, sir,” she warns. Calum’s own orgasm is still far down the line. He prays she can hold out for one last orgasm. 

“Cum for me, pretty girl. Let go.” 

“I want you to cum though. I need it,” she whines. 

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll get there. Give me this one. Cum around my cock, pretty girl. Please.” Pressing his thumb to her clit, he rubs it in circles. Even though Harlowe has slowed the added sensation is too much. She cries out, spasming around Calum’s cock. 

Calum holds her close, rubbing her back through the haze. “God,” he whispers. “You ought to see how beautiful you are when you cum.”

Harlowe chuckles into his skin, though it’s hot and clammy, it smells like home. “Mirror’s right over there,” she points, still nestled onto his cock. 

“Don’t give me any ideas, pretty girl.” It’s silent for a minute as Calum gently scratches at her scalp beneath the coils wrapping around his fingers. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have one more in you?”

She might, it looks slim. Her legs already feel pretty unstable. “Would I be on my hands and knees?”

“No, we can arrange it so you’re not on your hands and knees.”

“Then, yeah, I got one more in me,” she laughs, sitting up.

“Lay on your back, baby.” Harlowe compiles. Calum hovers a for a second, drinking in the sight of her. “I know what you’re thinking. No, it’s not going to be slow. So strap in.”

His first thrust is easy, an adjustment. But three strokes later, her legs are on his shoulder, the bed rocking into the wall. Harlowe hisses a little, reaching up for him. Calum meets her with a kiss, still holding her thighs spread open. His thrust become so hard that her head falls ips over the edge of the bed. But she’s in direct view of the mirror. As the blood rushes to her head, she can see Calum’s gaze stuck on her, not even the reflection of her, just him gazing down at her. She chuckles until the pleasure catches up with her again. 

“What’s so funny?” he asks breathless as his hips continue to snap into her. 

“Someone’s working hard to put a baby in me.”

Calum grins, bending over again. He kisses her, even when he’s rough she’s still finding something to giggle about. He trails his tongue down her neck, tasting the salt of her sweat and the taste of juices still left from before mixing on his tongue. His stomach clenches. He’s not going to last much longer. But he’d like to give her that third true orgasm that he promised. So he slows a little, thrusting deeper, but slower. He circles her clit, watching as her voice comes out strained with her swear. “You gonna give me another one? You said you had one more in you,” Calum taunts.

“Faster, I need your fingers faster, please.”

He kisses on the underside of her chin. “Hmm, anything for you, baby.” Calum speeds up his fingers, feeling his own orgasm approaching faster. He won’t make it after her, but he can still make sure she sees her end. Harlowe grips tightly at his bicep, holding her head up from the edge. It hurts how close she is at this point. “God, fuck, Oh God,” she pants.

“It’s-fuck- it’s okay, baby.” Calum’s orgasm crashes over him. He knows his moaning pretty loudly in her ear, but the sound leaves him abruptly. He doesn’t still, still thrusting through the high. 

“Calum, fuck,” Harlowe growls, voice thick with something like pain and pleasure. She clenches around him, his name falling from her lips again and again like a prayer. 

Post clean up, Harlowe lays on her back, legs thrown over Calum’s waist. His fingers dance over her skin. He can see a few reddish purple marks blossoming on her skin. “Do they hurt?” he asks. 

“No. They don’t ever really hurt unless I repeatedly hit that area.”

“I know. I’m just making sure.” He takes her spoon and scoops himself some of the peach mango sorbet. 

“Hey!” she reprimands. 

“I’m too lazy to get mine from downstairs. It’s too many steps.”

“It’s a flight and a half.”

“Still too many.” Harlowe finishes the last few spoonfuls, setting the bowl on the nightstand. Calum rolls his eyes. “I only wanted the one spoonful.” As they settle back on the screen, Harlowe wraps one arm around her stomach. Something feels different. A good different. 

__

Harlowe’s hands shake. She ought to take this pregnancy test. That’s the only way to know for sure. But she can’t do it. She reschedules her OBGYN appointment too. Until next week. Next week she’ll have her bearings together. Her head will be on straighter and she won’t be thinking about what the hell she and Calum are going to do with a newborn. They’ve long gotten rid of the diapers, and the cribs. Does she really have it in her to have another baby this late?

Instead of going to her OBGYN, she ends up buying tampons and more sorbet. It’s a light period, but still a period. She should’ve known that she wouldn’t have gotten pregnant again. Part of her feels like an idiot for even thinking it was a possibility. Doctor’s told her chances would be slim. So why think that she would the special case? 

Calum knocks on the bedroom door. After work, Harlowe mentioned being exhausted, so she took a nap. “Babe, dinner’s ready,” he says softly shaking her awake. Harlowe stretches after sitting up. Calum looks at his wife. She’s mentioned being tired most days. Her appetite isn’t much of a strange from normal, though the last few weeks she’s been extra sensitive about the smeell of seafood. The same thing when she was pregnant with Esha. 

“You ought to go to that appointment, babe.”

“For them to tell me I’m broken. I know that already.”

“Maybe you aren’t. But you can’t stand the smell of seafood anymore, you’re craving nuts again. You’re tired. I think you might be pregnant.” He doesn’t want to talk to loudly, doesn’t want to give himself false hope. But the thought keeps nagging him. “You’re spotting as well. I don’t think they’re full on periods.”

Harlowe nods. Her silence speaks volumes. Calum doesn’t pushes it. He takes her hand and they walk downstairs to the dining room. “How was your nap?” Te Koha asks. 

She kisses the top of his head. “Good, very good.” She settles in at the table next to Esha. She presses several kisses to her cheek.

“Mom,” Esha huffs. Calum sits across from her, watching the way she devours her dinner. Something is definitely up. Over the weekend, Calum steals a moment to call his mother. Joy warn him he has to do something even if it means dragging her to the office. On Tuesdays, Harlowe’s classes are finished early. So he knows he has to schedule it then, but he feels horrible forcing her. Joy, on the other hand, does not feel the same way. 

Her office hours through, Harlowe starts packing her backpack when a knocks rings out. The door opens and Joy pokes her head through. “Well, isn’t this a nice surprise,” Harlowe grins, walking over to embrace her mother-in-law.

“I needed some help with something and figured I’d pop by to see if you were free.”

“Yeah classes are done, but Calum was coming to pick me up,” Harlowe states. “Let me call him, he might even be in the parking lot.”

“I didn’t see his car. But I’m not sure where he parked though.”

Harlowe gathers the last of her things and pulls out her phone. Calum answers on the second ring. “Hey, I’m leaving now. I know I’m late. Got hung up in the studio.”

“Hey. Don’t worry. Your mom’s here. She needs help. I’m going to go with her.”

“Okay. Tell her I said hi.”

“Calum says hi,” Harlowe relays moving the phone. Joy grins.

“So sorry again, babe. Lost track of time. I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, it’s okay. The kids catch the bus, so it’s all good.” They hang up shortly after and the two woman start towards the parking lot. Joy watches Harlowe closely as they walk to the car. She can feel it; Harlowe’s pregnant again. She’s not sure if it scares Harlowe to have another child and that’s why she refuses to believe it. But whatever the case it is, clearly the woman knows something is up. She avoids deli meats, she doesn’t drink alcohol, has quit caffeine all together, everything she should be doing in pregnancy. She knows. But why does she not believe?

During the ride, Harlowe notes the strange route. But feels a bit rude questioning Joy. When they pull up in front of the small beige brick building, Harlowe sighs. “I should’ve figured.”

“You need to know. It’s been nearing what ten, eleven weeks at this point? You’re starting to show.”

Harlowe snaps her head over to the older woman. “Show? I’m two ounces short of being a keg. I am not showing; it’s not baby fat.”

A soft grin plays over Joy’s lips, all too similar to Calum’s. She doesn’t mean weight wise. It’s written across the glow in her skin. She is showing without even realizing.  “Then let’s find out, yeah?” The women climb out of the car and Joy takes Harlowe’s hand. “I know. You are pregnant though.”

It’s not nerve wrecking when she signs in her appointment. It’s not nerve wrecking waiting for the nurse to call her back. Harlowe doesn’t have nerve, listing the symptoms. It’s only when they break out the sheet to protect her skirt that the nerves start. Harlowe clutches Joy’s hand when they doctor slips on the gloves. She is pregnant. She knows it. She just didn’t want to be wrong. She couldn’t stand the thought that she the test would come back negative. That all those things were just her brain thinking, wanting a baby so bad, it played this trick on her. Harlowe stares up at the ceiling. She can’t bare to watch a blank screen. 

Thump-thump, thump-thump echoes around the room. Harlowe’s eyes sting with tears. That’s all she needs to hear. “Call Calum, please?” she cries to Joy. “Please. He needs to hear. Can she please call my husband?”

The doctor grins and a nurse exits the room. “Give us one moment, okay?”

Harlowe wipes her tears, staring at the monitor. The door creaks open again. She turns to the sound to see Calum. He walks far enough inside and have the door close, but the heartbeat echoing makes him stop. That’s his baby’s heartbeat. Tears slip down his cheek and Harlowe laughs. “God, we’re both a hot mess of tears.”

“You’re pregnant?” he breathes. 

She nods, the stiff paper of the bed crinkles under her movement. “I am. That’s our baby.”

Calum rushes over, burying his face into her shoulder. His tears are hot even through the cotton off her t-shirt. Inhaling deeply, Calum looks to the screen again. That’s his baby. His miracle, his next little one. The joy coursing through his veins lights his bones on fire. Though the late nights are tortuous, and changing diapers are not ideal again, after nearly seven years of not having to do it, he is fucking ecstatic. 

Harlowe has been dying for a third baby and he wanted nothing more than to give that to her. It was out of his hands, it was up to the numbers, gods, and chances. But he prayed for it, he begged to the high heavens to give this to her. She needed a good thing in her corner after her long battle. He knew she didn’t take him for granted, but there’s nothing quite like knowing something is sort of within reach and never being able to reach it. Until now. 

Calum turns his gaze, though blurry and watery, down to Harlowe. He wraps an arm around her hair and head, kissing her forehead repeatedly. “I love you,” he breathes into her skin. “And this baby.”

Harlowe holds to his bicep, pressing her face into the flesh and dense muscle. “I love you too. I’m so sorry I didn’t go sooner. I am so fucking sorry.”

“It’s okay. You were smart about your diet. You knew. And now you can believe it. It’s okay. I’m here.”

“But what if I wasn’t. What if I fucked up.”

“Then it would be a mistake. One among a lifetime of many. We would’ve handled whatever came our way, together. Right?”

“Always together.”

Back in the car, Harlowe hold the print out of the sonogram, gently rubbing her fingers over it. She was smart and Calum would always be right by her side. “So, are we good on babies?” Calum asks. 

“God, yes. No more, please.”

Calum laughs, grabbing her knee. “I have a consultation next week.”

They’ve weighed their options. Calum’s against her going in major surgery. Though Harlowe’s response is that a vasectomy is still surgery too. “What if I wasn’t pregnant?”

“Then I would’ve cancelled it, unless we were done trying.”

“Well, I’m done trying,” she laughs. 

“Should I schedule before or after the birth?”

“Before,” she whispers. Though worry flashes through her veins, she feels like waiting won’t help her. She prays nothing happens in this pregnancy, but part of her is tired. If she’s not meant to have a third child, then she’s not meant to birth a third child. There are still other options. 

“You’re worrying again. None of that. That’s our little one growing in you. It’s all going to be okay.”

She nods, though he can’t see it. It’ll all be okay.

[abakersquest]

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR – GOING FORWARD

The door to Stormstone Keep opened far too quickly. Neither of its two remaining occupants were ready to face the smiling faces of those outside.

Rozzi was the first to say anything as they walked out, “you boys sure had us worried there for a second. The whole island started… to…” her voice trailed off as she saw the door slide shut behind only two of her friends, where once there were three.

Sorrow weighed down hard on the wallaby’s face. He could barely raise his eyes toward the others. The words refused to take any physical form, as mostly likely some bit of him absolutely refused to admit Hector was gone. It’d happened so suddenly and came without a chance to save him. On top of it all, Wally could feel every last ounce of their growing grief and frustration, a mighty cascade of heartbreak that washed over him like a broken bit of stone on a beach, waiting to be dragged out into the sea.

As he somehow managed to tell them of Hector’s final moments, it all felt like an absolutely unworthy testimony to his courage and sacrifice. The words all seemed too small and weak, but they had to be said, the others had to know. Their friend did not die afraid, weak, or alone. He faced his end boldly and did not flinch. Giving everything he had so that all of them could continue on toward tomorrow.

Eventually Wally’s eyes could do nothing else but settle on the strange being standing apart from them all. It was a living sculpture that turned and nodded its head toward him in a solemn and apologetic manner. Wally could feel an emotional purity from it; its honest sympathy wholly distracting him from the creature’s odd nature and, for a moment, the grief in his heart.

“Sho’ko, new to the world beyond his origins, willingly admits there are things he cannot understand. He does not dare to intrude on your grief at the loss of a friend. But humbly offers whatever sympathy he can.”

With a subtle turn to everyone else, Wally asked, “Everyone else heard that, right?”

“Oh, y-yes.” Wistea sniffled, wiping a few tears from her eyes. “That is Sho’ko. Poda said he is one of the guardians of Krust Mountain. Apparently he was sent to find you and guide you there.”

Wally stared at the strange titan of diamond, the gleaming light in its chest and eyes certainly didn’t intone a drop of malicious intent. Whether the offer was sincere or the giant simply believed it to be was unclear. He sighed softly, looked back at his friends still stricken by the loss, shook his head, and did his best to dismiss what he felt from them and focus on his own emotions. With a look toward the sky above and the slowly growing glow of daybreak casting its light upon the retreating moons, he closed his eyes and remembered the night before he left Animana. There he was; sitting with his father, the night sky above rolling past without a single thought to them watching it go. He held the image tightly in his heart and let that light his way from the darkness, and hoped to shine that light on the others.

“Time won’t wait for us…” He said quietly to himself before standing a little straighter. His eyes slowly looked for the blue light that guided them here, still painted on the ever tumultuous storm wall. “Come on everyone, the sun’s rising, and we’ve got miles to go yet.”

They all looked to him, the first beams of sunlight peeking into the eye of the storm. There was sadness in his eyes and a few tears, but more so courage. The will to carry on almost beamed from him as he strode with head held high. Most would be stoic; most would bury what they felt for the good of the group. Wally wore his emotions proudly. They were alive, they were together, and the future of the world lay ahead of them all because Hector willed it so.

They carried their sorrow, but did so undefeated.

They would mourn the loss, but fight on regardless.

With the sunrise over the city, came a tide of concerned citizens and frantic guards. Barbatus, hovering above it all, barked orders over the din of noise easily, sending his officers to help with damaged buildings and aid any injured. The heroes slowly emerged from the storm to the tune of his booming voice. Quietly they all wondered why they didn’t hear him through it.

“BASKI, RATIMEZ, YOU’RE ON PERIMETER. NO ONE GETS IN OR OUT OF THE CITY WITHOUT MY SAY!” He managed to glance in time to see them and called out, somehow louder. “AH! CAP’N!” With a great flourish of his tremendous wingspan, the bearded vulture came down with a triumphant laugh. “BIT OF A SHAKE UP, BUT NOTHIN’ AS BAD AS THE ISLAND TWIRLIN’ OVER! GUESS YOU AND YOURS KEPT OUR TAILS OUT OF THE STEW POT.”

“Aye,” Blackeye answered plainly. “One of us more than any other.”

Barbatus looked over them all and saw they were truly one short. For the first time, his voice hit a much more reasonable volume, “He was… Hammond’s boy, wasn’t he?”

“Spittin’ image, both in looks and in courage. Seein’em both go before me makes me feel older than I ever have before.”

“I know the feeling,” Poda spoke up at last, hopping off the Captain’s shoulder and facing everyone. “I’ve watched so many young lives cut short before they made their marks. Rest assured this isn’t one of them. Orni’Hu keeps its place in the sky and the countless lives on it continue. A generation of Orni’Hulans now able to greet the future thanks to his sacrifice? That’s one damn fine mark. In fact it may be one among many if his friends are any indicator.” He smiled up at them all. “I’ll be taking my leave of you here; I’ve some moves I need to make as you all soldier on. I promise this isn’t the last you’ll see of this old bug.”

“Barbatus,” Blackeye’s voice, filled to the brim with authority brought the large bird’s attention to a standing salute. “You give Poda whatever he needs. I’ve no doubt he’s got the world in mind with every step.”

“AYE, CAP’N!”

The iconic storm at their backs calmed in the warmth of the sun, it rumbled and stirred, but the almost constant flashes of lightning had subsided. It was a fitting change, given what they all left behind. When they approached the God’s Providence, Wally stopped while the others continued on and turned to Gan. Kindly, he put his hands on the young boy’s shoulders and met his eyes. “Gan, we have to talk.”

Instant concern and desperation chained themselves to Gan’s heart, as all this time he’d been quietly blaming himself for what happened to Hector. He wasn’t strong enough, didn’t move fast enough, he could’ve done more to save the island and Sir Wally’s friend.

“It’s not your fault.”

Gan stared up at the knight, tears still rolling down his cheeks.

“Hector sent you my way to keep you safe, he knew what he had to do couldn’t have been possible with you there, you’d’ve tried to stop him. I know that because I would’ve.”

“But…”

“There was no stopping what happened, and there’s no sense dwelling on it longer than you have to. Which is something I keep telling myself, hoping that I’ll eventually believe it.” He smiled as warmly as he could. “If you want to make some amends, or feel you’ve failed, now’s the time to make up for it by living to the fullest.”

Gan let his hands drop to his sides and did his very best to stand as tall as he could, nodding bravely.

“I can’t stop you from coming with us, and I’m not stupid enough to try. But please, go home first. See your family, and then decide. We’ll pass over your flock before we leave Orni’Hu and open the cargo hatch for you if you choose to come with us.”

“Yes Sir.”

Wally let him go and gave him space to take off, watching as the flyer darted off into the sky, racing toward home like a cannon shot. With a quiet sigh he turned back to the ship and saw Blackeye handing out mugs to everyone. On approach, Rozzi handed over the one she took for him. Before he could ask, he saw the Captain head into the ship’s hold and reemerge with a large well worn barrel.

“This here?” the captain set the barrel down and tapped its lid, “Thall Whiskey, almost a hundred n’ ten years old. Bought two barrels of it back in Galaga so’s we could celebrate once we’re all said and done with this Kota business. I s’pose we can do with a barrel and a half when the time comes, ‘cause right now we need this’un”

He carefully poured the golden liquid into each of their mugs, set the barrel down and held his own mug high in the air. “TO SIR HECTOR CANI, A CHAMPION OF THE PEOPLE AND ONE OF THE BRAVEST SOULS I EVER MET!”

All save Sho’ko and Hyla raised their mugs and called out, “TO HECTOR!” before drinking.

While Hyla quickly caught onto the ceremonial gesture and followed suit, Sho’ko continued to stare down at the mug.

“Ain’t much of a drinker, eh’ stony?” The captain asked.

“Sho’ko, ever ready to learn of the world, apologizes that he cannot join you in this act. He shares your sentiments and celebration of life, but lacks the means.”

“Aye, pretty sure if you had a gut to rot, we’da seen it by now. Just hold the mug a bit longer and that’ll be fine.”

Rozzi unleashed a loud sigh of satisfaction as she finished off the whole mug in one go, where as Hyla coughed roughly after her first sip.

“I-Is it supposed to burn like that?” She asked hoarsely.

Wistea gently patted her on the back, speaking with an almost equal rasp “I had always heard that was part of the appeal.”

“Quite right, Scholar Faboi.” Argus pontificated. “Although the chief draw in barrel aged spirits is in the flavors they pick up from the wood over time. On their own they do what they can, but lack much in the way of flavor if not properly prepared.”

Now, one doesn’t work in a kitchen without learning their way around a few drinks. They came about either to celebrate a successful day, mourn a terrible one, or to improve the relationship between yourself and the head chef, with the obvious risk of destroying it at the same time. Wally had sipped, chugged, mixed, served, and gone home in a drunken haze more times than he’d care to mention. In his practiced opinion, the whiskey was an absolutely perfect pairing to a tearful goodbye.

The mugs emptied and their spirits, at least for now, buoyed. The heroes boarded the God’s Providence and set to deciding who would go to protect the Aspect of Air and who would join Wally on his quest to Krust Mountain.

“Well I’m going with you, there’s no doubtin’ that!” Rozzi said, crossing her arms to punctuate her order.

Wally didn’t dream of arguing with her.

Blackeye spoke to them as he walked. “That skiff only seats four and a helmsman. Since we’re headin’ to the distant north it’s best I stay with the Providence and Polly takes you lot to Krust Mountain. ‘Tween you, Rozzi, an’ cliff face, that’s three seats filled.”

“I will go!” Wistea said in a surprisingly declarative tone. “As I am Wally’s appointed legal counsel and a scholar of Planae dedicated to recording all the culture and history this world has to offer.”

“Legal… Wisty what are you… OH!” Rozzi stared up at her harshly. “I can’t believe it! You’re still thinkin’ of puttin’ Wally on trial for the library thing?! After everything we’ve been through together?!”

“I being his friend and him saving the world are no excuses for trespassing or property damage, Rozzi. This time fighting at his side has only made my serving as his advocate an even stronger tactic. I am certain when the time comes a fairly appointed and impartial judge will acquit him with only minimal community service. That’s fair, isn’t it, Wally?”

The wallaby sighed and shook his head, muttering under his breath, “This is going to be a very long trip…”

The God’s Providence took flight with little fanfare. Everyone on board simply set to a task to keep busy and stave off any lamenting the loss of Hector. Argus worked on what he called his ‘secret project’ refusing to disclose any details to Wistea. Polly carefully studied the controls of the waiting skiff in the ship’s departure deck. Sho’ko had settled into a meditative pose in the cargo hold alongside a surprised but not dismissive Hyla, who was in the midst of doing the same. Rozzi, currently settled into a corner on the bridge, had refused to let Wally out of her sight since his exit from Stormstone Keep. As it was, the Flarebearer quietly watched Orni’Hu roll on under the ship from a seat on the bridge.

He knew she was unhappy with his silence, but glad she was willing to let him rue in it for now at least. So it was that they soon came through a patch of clouds and He’lain Outpost was once again in view. He could just make out the shapes of wings flitting from building to building in the thankfully unfrozen settlement. Watching the massive crane lower a ship back down to the ocean at last was a welcome relief. It wasn’t often on this journey he could see signs of the good they’d managed to do, so he celebrated to himself quietly.

It wasn’t long until they came to the Distant Drifts, the broad and empty stretches of land settled by scattered flocks. He could just barely make out the ornate tents of Gan’s own, a distant smattering of colors in the clouds ahead.

“Captain,” Wally spoke without moving. “That spot over there, that’s Gan’s village. I promised we’d fly over when we were leaving.”

“Wind’s favorable; we’ll manage that just fine. You confident he’ll join up then?”

“Maybe,” he replied quietly. “He’s fearless, that one. Throws himself into danger if it means he can help… But seeing what happened to Hector put him at a crossroads. No intuition could tell me what path he’d choose.”

Blackeye smiled, not his typical toothy grin, but a much warmer expression. “Wasn’t much older than him when I set off to sea. My boat was barely bigger than a lil' rower and I only had the one barrel of drinkin’ water with a single crate of food. I buried my mum, and saw no reason t’ stay on that little island. More than a week later Captain Yeat “Gallows” Grayson saw me sail up to Galaga half starved, watched me tie off my boat, and had me very loudly turn him down when he offered me a meal. The rest of his crew told me later that the only time they’d seen him smile was when I mouthed of at him.”

“Then what happened?” Rozzi asked.

“He knocked me on my ass for bein’ a rude lil' scallop!” Blackeye laughed. “Next thing I know I’m wakin’ up in a makeshift bed in the hold of his ship, with orders to keep the whole thing tidy if I ever wanted to eat solid food again. Those old salts taught me everything I know… Saw the last of them go in the war, bastard of a trout by the name of… Charles. Heaven help me, I barely remembered his name. His ship was on fire, so he rammed it into a Sauroian gun boat hard as possible. Swear y’could still hear him cackling as the whole thing went up like fireworks.” He sighed, which the natural gravel in his voice made sound like a growl. “I promise you that meetin’ us was the best thing that coulda happened t’ that boy… I got little doubt he won’t be poundin’ on the back door so we’ll let him in.”

Wally managed a glance Blackeye’s way. He tried very hard to imagine this burly old shark as a ropey half starved boy, but just couldn’t. When he turned back the tents of Gan’s flock centered into the broad window of the bridge. His eyes could just barely make out dark colors moving about the tents before the shapes gathered en masse and rose into their air together. As the ship grew closer, Wally could see the flock of kestrels had flown up to meet them as they departed the island, escorting them out beyond its reaches in a graceful show of acrobatics lead by their patriarch. As they framed the course of the ship, the outer most flyers dropped down; followed by those next to them and so on until, just ahead of the ship, in plain view, were Gan, his sister, and their father. Kora was the first to break away, then Khan, leaving the youngest of their number in the air, leading the Providence away from his home. When he dipped down under the ship and began to slow, Wally jumped from his seat and made his way back to the cargo hold, quickly followed by Rozzi.

The pair sidestepped the meditating duo as they made their way to the rear. Rozzi sent a surge of her magic to the frame of the cargo bay hatch, creating a mystical seal of air before throwing the switch.

Wally centered himself behind the hatch while it lowered, and smiled as Gan came into view. Flitting about in the draft of the Providence, a backpack made for flying in tow. The wallaby pushed his hand out beyond Rozzi’s protective barrier and offered it to his young friend without pause.

Gan almost dove toward Wally’s hand, taking it firmly with the biggest smile his beak could produce as he was pulled inside.

Once his footing was solid, Gan stood his straightest and looked Wally right in the eye. “Squire Gan Noi’Goa, ready for your order Sir Wally!”

Wally did his best to ignore Rozzi’s indelicate snicker and focus on properly welcoming Gan. “That was quite the send of your flock gave you.”

“When I told my father what happened, he insisted. Kora wasn’t happy about me leaving, but he said it wasn’t her choice to make or his. I know it’s gonna scary and I could die… But I just couldn’t sit at home knowing you’re all out there doing your best!” Gan’s hands found the straps of his backpack and pulled at them firmly as if to anchor him in the moment. “I’m not doing this because I feel guilty or upset, but because I think about how I felt when Orni’Hu started to tilt and I don’t want anyone else to feel that way ever!”

“Alright feathers, hold it together.” Rozzi playfully rubbed his head. “We already pulled you on board so save the sales pitch.”

He laughed softly, “Sorry.”

“Well, we’re an odd bunch.” Wally said as turned to glance at Sho’ko before turning back to Gan. “Especially now… But we’re happy to have you along.”

Gan nodded firmly to his knight, acknowledging his welcome as everything he’d ever read about knights told him he should. His serious expression broke almost instantly as he saw Hyla moving over to the still open hatch.

She slowly pulled from her robes a string of beads, too large to be a bracelet, too small to be a necklace. She ran her fingers over it, each bead a different color, some made of wood, others stone or metal. She stopped on one that was clear as glass and held it out toward Orni’Hu in the growing distance. She said something none of them could hear before tucking the beads away and turning toward them. “It’s an old Sauroian tradition… Each bead on the mala represents someone who has passed on before you. It’s meant to anchor your memories of them, and reflect the gifts they gave you in life.”

The three of them very quickly realized just how many beads were on her mala and were about to say something when she serenely nodded to them all and made her way inside.

“Wally,” Rozzi asked quietly. “Is she…”

“Hyla’s fine… We all have our ways of dealing with loss and that’s hers. You don’t need to worry.”

Rozzi quietly sighed, turning out to face the floating isle that shone in the late afternoon sun, looking as peaceful as when they first approached. She was so worried on their way there she hadn’t taken it in quite how beautiful the cloud coated land truly was. ‘Hector did that,’ she quietly told herself. ‘He kept it flying.’

“Goodbye my friend,” Wally said aloud. “I promise we won’t let you down.”

Rozzi wrapped an arm around his waist. “No sir, we won’t.” Finally, she set the hatch to close.

Gan stared at his home for as long as the closing hatch allowed, he was now the furthest from it he’d ever been and only growing further by the second. He’d honor the knight that gave his life to save him and it from destruction, and resolved on the hatch’s closing to give his all for the cause and those awaiting his return.

---

“Wait, I’m not going with you?” Gan said somewhat despondently.

Wally, Rozzi, Wistea, and Sho’ko stood in the hangar bay of the Providence’s skiff. A pear shaped vehicle with folded wings and a single prop, much like the craft that brought Wally to Orni’Hu but the size of a large carriage. Polly had already sat down behind its wheel and checked over a small list of instructions written by Rollo Poda on how to launch it.

Wally did his best to look apologetic. “I’m sorry Gan; we have to divide our efforts. I have to go to Krust Mountain and the others have to try and protect the…” he trailed off, honestly losing track of the name.

Wistea chimed in, “The Aspect of Air.”

“Whatever that is,” Rozzi added.

Wistea gasped. “Rozzi! Do you honestly not remember that whole story Scholar Poda told us about… Ohhh wait, you meant what the actual Aspect is in relation to its nature, yes?”

“Sure, that’s what I meant.” The red panda rolled her eyes and headed toward the waiting airship.

Wally sighed and shook his head to dismiss the extra commentary. “We’ll be meeting up on an island just north of Sauro that Captain Blackeye knows we’ll be safe to hold out on until we’re all ready to take the fight directly to Kota.” He put a hand on Gan’s shoulder and smiled. “I know you’ll do right by everyone while I’m not around.”

“I promise, sir!”

“Good lad.” Wally turned from Gan and made his way up to Sho’ko, walking alongside him toward the waiting skiff. “So! Is Krust Mountain far from Orni’Hu?”

“Sho’ko, the humble traveler, cannot say whether our destination is near or far, as the distance is relative to those who’ve traveled it.”

“… I don’t know why I expected a straight answer.”

Wally and Rozzi sat on the bench-like seating directly behind Polly, and behind them Wistea was thin enough to occupy the space beside Sho’ko. The clear glass-like canopy of the skiff lowered over them with a thud and a hiss as it locked into place. Wally could see the four pillars that flanked the skiff begin to turn as the sound of a metal hatch opening sounded beneath them. On closer inspection he realized the pillars were unscrewing themselves and that the only way the skiff could make it out into the open air was to drop into empty sky.

He would’ve asked how safe that was had his stomach not so quickly and forcefully been introduced to his throat. Rozzi gave out a cheer that barely cut through Wistea’s panicked cries. The wings on the sides unfurled like sails and the prop quickly spun, carrying them all against the flow of gravity and turning at least two of their stomachs.

Polly giggled. “Sorry! Couldn’t think of a way t’prepare you for that, so I let it be a surprise!”

“TERRIBLE SURPRISE! ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE!” Wistea shouted.

Wally groaned as his insides slowly settled back into place. He dared to look up and out as the skiff sped up and banked around the front of the God’s Providence. There, Blackeye gave them a firm salute that Wally, just barely, managed to return.

There wasn’t much to worry about as the skiff sailed for hours above a seemingly endless expanse of ocean below. Rozzi and Wally settled in for a much needed nap, using each other as cushions. Meanwhile Wistea struggled against Sho’ko’s overly poetic manner of speech to learn more about him.

“So, the guardians were created after Mondia was populated and given free thought?”

“There is no need for defense, if there is nothing to defend against.”

“Alright… So first the sun is lit, Mondia is made, and the moons are formed to help give it shape and spin. Life comes after all that, then free will, then the Guardians. So, one must conclude that you are the only ones left who remember the name of the gods!”

“Sho’ko, born of time and patience, did not ask for names he was never given.”

“They… Did not tell you their names?”

“This world is their legacy, the people on it, the skies and seas. What more would they need than to see it prosper and endure?”

“I had always thought gods would desire worship from their creation. Thanks for their work…”

“The fully formed world is the greatest thanks they could ask for. What happens upon it concerns them not, for their only will is to see how it progresses.”

“… Are you saying they might not help us?”

“Sho’ko, infinite in his condolence, cannot say yes or no. They will judge solely on the testimony of one.”

“But the goddess, the one in the Stellar Flare, she helped banish Kota.”

“Were Kota banished, this conversation would not be.”

The Planaetian sighed. “I suppose then I should tutor Wally on the finer points of debate and manners. The fate of our world may very well all hinge on his ability to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ at just the right time.”

“The fate of the world hinges on every choice made.”

Wistea shut her eyes and rubbed them stressfully. “Please don’t say things like that, I have enough to worry about.”

“Hey!” Polly called out from the front of the skiff. “Is that it over there?”

Sho’ko held up his hand, the palm of which glowed. He slowly panned it ahead of himself, the glow increasing and decreasing as it passed by some imaginary point. “We are near and must descend. The Point of Origin can only be approached from one direction; all others shall lead us astray. From the surface of the water, approach only when the black peak is between the other two and fly directly toward it regardless of any danger.”

Wistea gently woke Rozzi and Wally as the skiff made its way down to skirt the sea. All eyes watched as, in the distance, they could see a massive island comprised entirely of three mountain peaks. Of the three, one was blacker than the rare moonless midnight. Polly carefully flew them above the waves and watched as the black peak centered into view.

“Sho’ko,” Wistea began to ask. “You said ‘regardless of any danger’. What exactly did you mean?”

A single diamond finger pointed ahead toward the island. All eyes slowly went from it to the mountain peaks which, strangely, seemed to be rising from the sea. Amidst the stirring waters an incalculably large pair of crimson crab claws emerged along with eyes that shone with the size and brightness of a lighthouse each. An ear piercing gurgle of a noise crashed against the skiff’s front almost throwing it off balance.

The sight, however impossible, was entirely undeniable. Krust Mountain, the legendary moving island of the Southeastern seas, sat squarely on the back of an immense hermit crab.

<[Chapter 33]–[Index]–[Chapter 35]>